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Vol.  XVII 


DECEMBER,  1913 


No. ^2 


ORGAN   OF  THE    PRIESTHOOD    Qc/dRuMS,    THE    YOUNG    MEN'S   MUTUAl 

IMPROVEMENT  ASSOCIATIONS  AND  THE    SCHOOLS    OF    THE    CHURCH    Qf- 

JESUS  CHRIST  OF  LATTER  DAY  SAINTS 

'■'  I  Published  monthly  by  the  general  board  at  s*lt  like  city,  uta/i 


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In  Lighter  Mood 


Grandmother  didn'  know  nothin'  'bout  th'  benzoate  o' 
sody.     She  hid  her  jelly  t'  make  it  keep. — Abe  Martin. 

"Well,  the  Lord  don't  deliver  nobody,  without  they  wrig- 
gle for  themselves  pretty  consider'ble  well  fust." — Rose  Terry 
Cooke. 

A  feller  don't  have  over  two  er  three  real  friends  in  a 
lifetime.  Once  in  a  while  you  meet  some  one  that's  nice 
an'  clever,  but'  he  generally  turns  out  t'  be  an  agent  fer 
somethin', — Abe  Martin  in  American  Magazine. 

A  small  boy  was  hoeing  corn  in  a  farm  lot  by  the  road- 
side. A  man  came  along  in  a  fine  buggy  driving  a  handsome 
horse.  He  looked  over  the  fence,  stopped  and  said,  "Bub, 
what  do  you  get  for  hoeing  that  corn?" 

After  a  moment's  hesitation,  the  lad  replied,  "Nothin'  if 
I    do,   and  hell   ef  I   don't." 

Dr.  Fred  J.  Pack,  of  the  University  of  Utah,  accompanied 
a  "bunch"  of  eighty-five  M.  I.  A.  Scouts  to  Ensign  Peak  a 
few  days  ago.  He  gave  them  talks  on  geological  formations 
and  the  ancient  lake  levels.  One  of  the  boys  found  a  horny 
toad  which  became  the  object  of  considerable  interest.  Some- 
one asked  the  professor  to  tell  something  about  the  toad. 
The  professor  began:  "Now  this  is  not  a  horny  toad,  that  is 
a  misnomer.  Now  what  is  it,  then?"  One  of  the  boys  im- 
mediately answered:  "It's  a  misnomer."  The  professor's 
further  statement  that  the  creature  belongs  to  the  lizzard 
family  was   lost   in   laughter. 

This  will  be  appreciated  by  all  who  have  passed  by  rail 
from  Nephi  to  Ephraim: 

Capt.  Smith  is  the  conductor  on  a  small  southern  railroad. 
He  is  also  president,  general  manager,  freight  superintendent, 
and  all  the  other  officers.  The  road  has  the  large  equipment 
of  one  engine  and  two  cars.  A  daily  round  trip  is  made  when 
the  engine  behaves.  Capt.  Smith  will  stop  for  anything  any- 
where along  the  line.  One  of  his  best  shippers  is  Widow 
Brown,  whose  daily  contribution  to  his  freight  business  is  a 
dozen  eggs.     One  morning  she  was  sad. 

"Captain,"  she  said,  when  the  train  stopped,  "I've  only 
got  11;  but  there's  a  hen  on   the   nest." 

"Don't  worry,  Mrs.  Brown,"'  said  the  captain.  "We'll 
wait."     And   they  did,    until   the    hen    cackled. 


Improvement  Era 


Vol.  XVII  DECEMBER,  1913  No.  2 


Agricultural  Conditions  in  Book  of  Mormon 

Times 


BY  FRANK  S.  HARRIS,  PH.  Dv  PROFESSOR  OF  AGRONOMY,  UTAH  AGRI- 
CULTURAL COLLEGE 


When  America  was  discovered  by  Columbus,  its  inhabitants 
were  far  from  being  a  highly  specialized  agricultural  people.  It 
is  true  the  Aztecs  of  Mexico  and  the  Incas  of  Peru  had  a  fairly 
advanced  civilization ;  yet,  taking  North  and  South  America  as 
a  whole,  the  great  majority  of  the  people  depended  for  their  food 
on  hunting,  fishing,  and  the  bounties  of  the  native  vegetation 
rather  than  on  the  products  of  farms  as  we  know  them  today. 
Only  the  most  fertile  regions  were  tilled,  and  these  did  not  pro- 
duce any  great  variety  of  crops  or  domestic  animals. 

That  a  much  higher  state  of  agricultural  development  had 
existed  in  America  at  some  previous  time,  cannot  be  doubted  by 
any  student  of  the  subject.  The  aborigines  of  America  gave  to 
the  world  a  number  of  its  most  important  crops — corn  and  po- 
tatoes being  notable  examples.  The  farmers  of  the  world  each 
year  produce  more  than  five  billion  dollars  worth  of  these  two 
crops  alone.  This  amount  of  money,  although  inconceivable, 
shows  something  of  what  the  world  owes  to  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Western  Continent  agriculturally,  even  though  they  did  not  till  the 
soil  intensively  at  the  time  of  the  European  discoveries. 

Those  who  have  made  a  study  of  the  Book  of  Mormon  lands 
have  been  struck  by  the  high  state  of  agriculture  that  must  have 
existed  in  earlier  times.  The  remains  of  irrigation  systems  that 
almost  baffle  modern  engineering  skill  have  been  found ;  and  in 
certain  places  very  complex  terracings  are  seen,  showing  that  a 
great  amount  of  labor  was  spent  in  making  the  land  produce  a^ 


98  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

much  as  possible.  From  these  remains  we  cannot  tell  many  of  the 
details  of  methods.  We  are  simply  left  to  conclude  that  civiliza- 
tions have  risen  and  fallen  ;  and  with  them  systems  of  agriculture 
of  no  uncertain  merit  have  gone  hand  in  hand. 

Let  us  turn  to  the  records  of  these  times  to  see  what  light 
they  tlnow  on  the  subject.  The  Book  of  Mormon  is  full  of 
references  to  agricultural  operations.  These  make  clear  the  fact 
that  the  original  settlers  of  the  Americas  were  tillers  of  the  soil. 
They  planted  and  harvested  as  well  as  tended  their  flocks  and 
herds.  Each  company,  in  preparing  for  the  journey  to  the  prom- 
ised land,  gathered  and  took  with  it  "seeds  of  every  kind,  both  of 
grain  of  every  kind,  and  also  the  seeds  of  fruit  of  every  kind"  as 
well  as  "flocks,  both  male  and  female,  of  every  kind."  (I  Nephi 
8:1;  Ether  1  :41).  And  in  all  their  movings  from  place  to  place 
and  settling  new  country  they  were  careful  to- take  seeds  with 
them.  Ft  may  be  a  following  out  of  this  idea  that  has  given  the 
Indian  the  characteristic  that  is  often  attributed  to  him  that  he  will 
starve,  with  seed  corn  in  his  house,  before  he  will  eat  what  he 
has  saved  to  plant. 

Whenever  the  people  moved  from  place  to  place,  either  in 
quest  of  better  lands  or  because  of  being  harassed  by  their  ene- 
mies, they  gathered  together  their  flocks  and  herds  and  the  pro- 
ducts of  the  soil.  The  record  usually  mentions  this  fact,  inferring 
that  their  agricultural  possessions  were  among  the  most  precious 
things  they  had.  Usually  the  first  event  that  is  recorded  con- 
cerning them  when  they  arrived  at  a  place  where  they  expected 
to  make  a  new  home  is  that  they  "began  to  till  the  earth,  and  to 
plant  seeds."  In  describing  the  regions  through  which  they 
traveled  there  was  usually  some  reference  to  the  fertility  of  the 
land   and   its  adaptation  to  agriculture. 

At  many  times  during  the  history  of  their  occupancy  of  the 
American  Continent  a  spirit  of  exceeding  democracy  seemed  to  be 
over  the  land,  so  much  so  that  even  the  rulers  practiced  agri- 
culture. Thus:  "King  Mosiah  did  cause  his  people  that  they 
should  till  the  earth,  and  he  also,  himself,  did  till  the  earth,  that 
thereby  he  might  not  become  burdensome  to  his  people,  that  he 
might  do  according  to  that  which  his  father  had  done  in  all 
things."  (Mosiah  6:7).  Amnion  and  his  brethren  found  that 
even  the  Lamanite  King  Lamoni  was  interested  in  agricultural 
pursuits  and  that  lie  had  his  lands  with  his  flocks  and  herds. 

The  Book  of  Monnon  tells  us  that  in  those  days  they  had 
troubles  to  contend  with  the  same  as  we  have  today.  There  were 
insects  that  devoured  their  crops;  hot  winds  blighted  them  before 
they  matured;  and  droughts  and  famines  were  not  unknown.  In 
the  account  of  the  fust  settlers  of  the  land,  the  Book  of  Ether 
(Ch.  9:30)  tells  us  that:  "There  began  to  be  a  great  dearth  upon 
the  land,   and   the   inhabitant-   began   to  .be   destroyed   exceeding 


AGRICULTURAL  CONDITIONS  99 

fast,  because  of  the  dearth,  for  there  was  no  rain  upon  the  face 
of  the  earth."  In  the  descriptions  given  of  the  depredations  made 
by  robbers,  it  is  usually  stated  that  they  stole  products  of  agricul- 
ture, showing  that  these  things  were  common. 

This  record  of  the  Nephites  is  full  of  instances  where  pros- 
perity followed  the  serving  of  the  Lord  and  where  the  people 
ceased  to  get  along  well  when  they  turned  away  from  him.  In- 
deed, the  whole  book  is  a  succession  of  chronicles  of  alternating 
prosperity  and  failure  dependent  of  their  attitude  toward  their 
Creator.  Their  religious  life  was  bound  up  closely  with  their 
daily  affairs,  and  it  is  from  some  of  the  religious  teachings  that 
we  learn  most  about  their  agriculture.  The  illustrations  used 
in  giving  instructions  regarding  sacred  things  were  drawn  largely 
from  their  daily  life.  Just  as  in  the  New  Testament  we  learn 
much  of  the  agricultural  conditions  of  the  Jews  from  the  parables 
of  the  Savior,  so  in  this  record  similar  teachings  give  us  a  better 
idea  of  some  of  the  routine  of  their  lives  than  can  be  had  from  the 
mere  narrative. 

There  is  no  definite  account  of  just  what  kinds  of  crops  they 
had,  except  that  the  following  are  mentioned :  corn,  wheat,  barley, 
neas  and  sheum,  as  well  as  all  manner  of  fruits.  We  do  not 
know  just  the  nature  of  neas  and  sheum,  but  we  are  familiar  with 
the  other  crops.  We  are  told  that  the  Jaredites  brought  honey 
bees  which  they  called  Deseret  and  that  they  had  "all  manner  of 
cattle,  of  oxen,  and  cows,  and  of  sheep,  and  of  swine  and  of  goats, 
and  also  many  other  kinds  of  animals  which  were  useful  for  the 
food  of  man ;  and  they  also  had  horses,  and  asses,  and  there  were 
elephants  and  cureloms,  and  cumons."  (Ether  9:18-19).  We 
are  not  aware  what  the  last  two  were,  but  the  record  says  they 
were  especially  useful  to  man.  That  they  had  implements  is  made 
clear  by  the  following  quotation  from  Ether  10:25-26:  "And  they 
did  make  all  manner  of  tools  to  till  the  earth,  both  to  plough  and 
to  sow,  to  reap  and  to  hoe,  and  also  to  thresh.  And  they  did  make 
all  manner  of  tools  with  which  they  did  work  their  beasts." 

A  very  great  deal  could  be  written  along  this  line,  from 
the  information  that  is  given,  but  sufficient  has  been  said  to  give 
a  general  idea  of  some  of  the  agricultural  practices  of  the  early 
inhabitants  of  America. 

In  studying  the  Scriptures  purely  for  the  religious  gems  they 
contain,  we  sometimes  get  a  distorted  idea  of  the  people  de- 
scribed. The  fact  is,  they  were  men  and  women  just  as  we  are 
today,  with  similar  joys  and  sorrows,  with  temptations  and  trials, 
and  all  the  other  things  that  contribute  to  human  life.  If  we  can 
be  made  to  understand  as  fully  as  possible  the  conditions  under 
which  they  lived,  it  will  enable  us  to  be  in  closer  sympathy  with 
them.   Such  an  attitude  will  make  us  better  able  to  understand  the 


100  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

hand  dealings  of  the  Father  with  his  children  in  all  the  ages  that 
are  passed. 

Agricultural  References  in  the  Book  of  Mormon. — I  Nephi  8:1; 
16:11;  17:5;  18:6;  18:24-25;  II  Nephi  5:11;  15:2-10;  Jacob  5:3-77;  Enos 
1:21;  Mosiah  6:7;  7:22;  9:9-14;  10:2,  4,  21;  11:15-17;  12:6;  21:16;  22:8 
11;  23:1,  5,  25,  31;  24:18;  Alma  1:29;  3:2;  7:27;  17:25-39;  18:9-12;  27:14 
34:20,  24,  25;  62:29;  Helaman  3:5-10;  6:12;  11:6,  17;  III  Nephi  3:22 
4:3  4.  5,  6;  6:1,  2;  Ether  1:41;  2:1,  3;  6:4,  13;  9:17,  18,  19,  31,  35;  10:12, 
25,  26. 

LOGAN,   UTAH  


My  Testimony  of  Joseph  Smith  the  Prophet 


I  believe  Joseph  Smith  to  be  a  true  prophet  of  God  for  many 
reasons : 

First,  I  think  he  could  not  have  been  deceived,  because  so 
many  of  his  visions  came  in  broad  daylight;  he  was  physically 
and  mentally  strong,  and  the  work  which  he  accomplished  could 
not  have  been  done  by  a  man  who  was  to  mentally  feeble  as  to 
become  deceived. 

Second,  I  can  see  no  motive  for  his  being  a  wilful  deceiver. 

Third,  the  rule  that  God  gave  us  by  which  we  could  judge  a 
true  prophet  was  utterly  fulfiled  in  him. 

Fourth,  I  think  God  would  choose  a  man  with  a  sweet,  lov- 
able disposition  such  as  he  had  to  do  His  work. — Eunice  Wilkin- 
son, Student  Brigham  Young  University. 


An  Irrigation  Parable 


Two  men  strove  at  the  bright  day-dawn  for  the  use  of  the 
trickling  stream  which  meandered  slowly  down  the  thirsty  ditch. 
They  employed  words  to  show  their  rights  to  use  this  stream,  and 
when  that  availed  not  to  decide  the  matter,  the)'-  came  to  blows 
and  beat  each  other  on  the  breast  and  back. 

And  the  sun  arose,  and  the  heat  shriveled  the  young  plants, 
while  the  shimmer  of  the  noon-day  drought  was  over  the  face 
of  the  plain. 

But  the  men  were  broken  and  spent  with  their  strife.  Both 
lay  prone  upon  the  sands. 

And  the  sun  rode  high,  then  dipped  downward  on  his  course 
and  soon  was  lost  to  view. 

The  little  stream  had  found  a  gopher  hole,  and  down  into 
this  rude  and  useless  cup  the  life-giving  waters  poured.  But  the 
men  still  lay  spent  and  broken  upon  the  plain,  and  the  moon  rose 
upon  their  folly. — Snsa  Young  Gates. 


Tl 


WkyArtUoMSad? 

-Ai\d  IKou  alrt  sad. ,  beloved, 

■And.  ki\ow  t\oT  wky, 

T ky  KeoJrC  t  rorrv.  past , 
)       T Kc  T\ow\  &i\d  future/  Weaves 
§Tr&.T\<j>e.   dreads  o'er  wluck. 

T  ky  soul  in  sickrvtss  ^r~\z,ve%l 
-Ai\d  TKom  ddTR  wdsfe  "ttvTKe  kou  rs# 

■Ai\d  vi-seless    si<J>k_ , 
■At\a  "c&tv.  tvo  plfeo.su  re  ni\d. 

€)f   eSrtk.  or  sky, 

Irv.   oAiKirry^s'    w'oav. 

Or  <£old  &r\d  scarlet  eves, 

TRa-  rSsliesi  carpet 

<&f1t\e,  foJIerv  le&ves. 
I  Ko.1   seerr^     to"  wkisper 

Tkst"  eJl  1t\tiR^s  n\ustdi'e? 

Wky  art"tkose  &ye%  of"ttui\e, 
<5>o  -filled  wttK  te^r>s ; 
Wky  Ikus  wvtfc.  s&divess 
-All  It^  n\orr\&Nls  bir\d? 

Its   <|>vfts  davev/IKk  7m\e 
.  <&f   blcssonv.  briars, 

Tko^k  pd.nv,>^er  Joy;  dotfv. 

WilkiK.  live  .yeexr-s V 

live  kopes  of  dA\  1tv&  p&sf 
Tky  soul  stall  fii\d,/-^x|</ 
Tky  keSrtrDjoe  luirwlh^F 
6f  ^  IKousaavcl  spn  n.^s !'  j 

—  Alfred,  JL»kTnboume 


Jim  Bridger,  "Our  First  Citizen" 


BY    PRESTON    NIBLEY 


I 

"His  lifetime  measures  that  period  of  our  history  during  which  the 
West  was  changed  from  a  trackless  wilderness  to  a  settled  and  civilized 
country.  He  was  among  the  first  who  went  to  the  mountains,  and  he  lived 
to  see  all  that  had  made  a  life  like  his  possible,  swept  away  forever." — 
Hiram  Chittenden. 

Whenever  I  hear  the  name  Jim  Bridger  mentioned,  there  are 
two  events  in  that  famous  trapper's  life  that  pass  through  my 
mind.  I  picture  him  first  as  a  boy  of  twenty,  clad  in  his  fur  cloth- 
ing, his  trapper's  garb,  tramping  through  the  snow  alone  in  the 
dead  of  winter,  through  Bear  River  canyon,  west  of  Cache  Valley, 
down  past  the  present  sites  of  Deweyville  and  Corinne,  following 
the  winding  river  to  where  it  empties  into  Great  Salt  Lake.  I 
nicture  him  tasting  the  water  of  the  lake,  and  his  astonishment  at 
finding  it  salt ;  his  pausing  to  reflect  on  the  scene  before  him ;  his 
returning  to  his  companions  encamped  in  Cache  Valley  and  in- 
forming them  he  had  discovered  "an  arm  of  the  sea." 

Then  again  I  picture  him  later  in  life,  when  twenty-two  more 
summers  have  passed  over  his  head.  He  is  a  keen  and  hardy 
"mountain  man"  now :  "In  person  tall  and  spare,  straight  and 
agile,  eyes  gray,  hair  brown  and  long,  expression  mild,  and  man- 
ners agreeable."  Continuous  travel,  summer  and  winter,  over  the 
whole  region  of  "the  Great  West,"  wild  and  thrilling  experiences, 
have  made  him  the  foremost  American  hunter,  trapper  and  guide 
of  his  day.  "With  a  buffalo  skin  and  a  piece  of  charcoal  he  can 
map  out  any  portion  of  this  immense  region  and  delineate  moun- 
tains, streams,  and  circular  valleys,  called  'holes,'  with  wonderful 
accuracy." 

It  is  June  28,  1847.  The  place  is  "the  point  where  the  Cali- 
fornia trail  crosses  the  Little  Sandy  river,"  (in  what  is  now  south- 
western Wyoming)  and  the  time  is  evening.  Seated  around  a 
campfire  are  a  group  of  earnest,  weather-browned  men,  among 
whom,  one,  our  immortal  President  Young,  is  questioning  a  lean, 
gaunt  trapper,  Jim  Bridger.  Listen !  The  trapper  is  saying,  "I 
consider  it  unwise  to  bring  a  large  colony  into  the  Great  Basin  until 
it  is  demonstrated  that  grain  can  be  grown.  And  as  for  the  Salt 
Lake  Valley.  I  will  give  a  thousand  dollars  for  the  first  ear  of  corn 
that  ripens  there."  President  Young  laconically  replies,  "Wait  a 
little,  and  we  will  show  you." 


JIM  BRIDGER,  "OUR  FIRST  CITIZEN"  103 

These  are  the  two  events  of  Jim  Bridger's  life  that  particu- 
larly interest  me.  First,  that  as  a  mere  boy,  here  in  the  moun- 
tains in  the  Winter  of  1824-25,  he  discovered,  and  was  the  first 
white  man  to  report,  so  far  as  we  know,  the  existence  of  our  Great 
Salt  Lake.  And,  second,  that  on  that  memorable  western  journey 
of  our  Pioneers,  in  the  summer  of  1847,  Jim  Bridger  met  them, 
camped  with  them,  conversed  with  them,  and  heartily  endeavored 
to  discourage  them  in  their  settlement  here.  Bridger  knew  the 
country  from  more  than  twenty  years  experience,  and  he 
"knocked"  it,  but  he  "knocked"  it  to  the  wrong  people. 

To  inquire  further  into  the  famous  old  trapper's  life,  is  to  read 
a  most  interesting  history.  For  many,  many  years  he  was  here 
in  the  "wilderness,"  before  a  settler  ever  came  to  till  the  soil,  or 
build  a  home.  Constantly  surrounded  by  danger  of  wild  animals 
and  savage  tribes,  he  trapped  along  the  streams  for  beaver  fur, 
day  in  and  day  out,  over  a  vast  region.  He  knew  the  head  waters 
of  the  Missouri  and  Yellowstone ;  he  had  sailed  the  Columbia  to 
its  mouth.  The  Sacramento  River  in  California  and  the  Rio 
Grande  in  Mexico,  were  familiar  to  him.  It  was  a  wild,  fascinat- 
ing life  he  led ;  tremendously  interesting  to  us  at  this  day  when  the 
"trackless  wilderness"  has  become  a  settled  country,  dotted  with 
prosperous  towns  and  cities  and  covered  with  teeming  fields. 

The  few  facts  I  have  been  able  to  learn  about  Bridger's  early 
years  have  been  found  after  considerable  research.  He  was  a 
southerner  by  birth,  born  of  a  poor  tavern-keeper  in  Richmond, 
Virginia,  March,  1804.  His  father  early  caught  the  western  fever 
and,  in  1812,  settled  at  St.  Louis.  Here  the  boy  grew  up,  on  the 
very  edge  of  the  wild  west,  where  romantic  stories  of  exciting  ad- 
venture continually  rang  in  his  ears.  At  eighteen  he  was  a  black- 
smith's apprentice.  In  the  same  year  a  small  advertisement  in  a 
St.  Louis  newspaper,  put  there  by  William  Ashley,  calling  for  "one 
hundred  men  to  go  to  the  mountains  and  trap  beaver,"  caught  his 
eye.  Bridger  answered  "the  call  of  the  wild."  He  joined  Ashley 
and  disappeared  into  the  desert,  and  but  few  times  did  he  return  to 
civilization  again,  except  when,  an  old  and  feeble  man,  he  re- 
turned to  die. 

Was  it  luck  or  insight  attended  this  young  scout  in  his 
achievements?  It  was  on  his  first  journey  west  that,  riding  his 
mule,  and  somewhat  ahead  of  his  fellows,  Bridger  is  reported  to 
have  discovered  the  great  south  pass  on  the  Wyoming  plateau, 
which  for  years  afforded  to  weary  emigrants  the  road  of  easiest 
access  across  the  Rockies.  History  is  meagre  as  to  his  first  trip, 
and  but  few  events  are  fecorded.  Here  in  the  mountains,  Ashley's 
men  had  a  terrible  time  of  it.  They  were  attacked  by  Indians. 
They  lost  their  supplies.  The  party  broke  up  and  scattered  in  all 
directions.       As  before  related,  Bridger  and  a  few  companions 


104  iMPR(  »\  l   Ml  ■  \  l    IK  \ 

found  themselves  stranded,  encamped  in  Cache  Valley,  waiting  for 
the  winter  <>f  1824  25  b  i  pass. 

Chittenden,  the  historian,  tells  the  story  of  the  discovery  of 
Salt  I  .ake  as  foil  >ws : 

"\  party  "I  Ashley's  nun  wire  encamped  for  the  winter  of  1824 
ami  1825,  in  Cache  Valley,  and  were  trapping  on  Bear  River  and  its 
tributaries.  Here  a  controversy  arose  as  to  the  course  of  Bear  River, 
after  it  left  the  valley.  A  wager  was  laid  and  James  Bridger  was  se- 
lected  to  follow  the  river  and  determine  the  bet.  This  he  did,  and  soon 
arrived  at  its  outlet  in  Great  Salt  Lake.  Tasting  the  water,  he  dis- 
covered it  to  be  salt,  and  on  reporting  to  his  companions,  all  assumed 
it   was  an  arm  of  the  Pacific  Ocean." 

I  have  read  denials  that  Bridger  was  the  first  white  man  to 
look  across  the  waters  of  our  Inland  Sea.  Stansbury,  in  his  re- 
port, (published  in  1855)  says  "that  the  existence  of  a  large  lake 
of  salt  water  somewhere  amid  the  wilds,  west  of  the  Rocky  moun- 
tains, seems  to  have  been  known  vaguely  as  long  as  one  hundred 
and  fifty  years  since."  One  Samuel  Ruddock  claims  to  have  passed 
through  Salt  Lake  valley  in  1821.  "That  no  white  man  ever  saw 
the  Great  Salt  Lake,"  says  Bancroft,  "before  Bridger,  cannot  be 
proven,  but  his  being  the  only  well  authenticated  account,  history 
must  rest  there  until  it  finds  a  better  one." 

For  Jim  Bridger's  next  adventure  that  we  are  able  to  learn  in 
recorded  history,  we  pass  over  a  number  of  years.  The  story  is 
told  by  nu  other  than  the  brilliant  Washington  Irving.  It  is  1832. 
Since  we  last  heard  of  him,  Captain  Jim  has  become  a  hardy,  fear- 
less trapper,  a  i°ader  of  his  fellows,  and,  though  still  a  boy,  he  is 
known  as  "the  old  man  of  the  mountains."  Irving  relates  that  he 
and  his  fellow  trappers,  while  traveling  south,  following  the 
streams  and  trapping  beaver  near  what  is  now  the  region  of  Yel- 
lowstone Park,  one  day  saw  a  body  of  Blackfoot  Indians  in  the 
open  plain,  though  near  enough  some  rocks  which  could  be  re- 
sorted to  in  case  of  neet..'  The  Indians  made  pacific  overtures 
which  were  reciprocated  by  the  whites.  A  few  men  advanced 
from  each  party.  A  circle  was  formed  and  the  pipe  of  peace  was 
smoked.  While  this  ceremony  was  being  enacted,  a  young  Mex- 
ican named  Loretto,  a  free  trapper  accompanying  Bridger's  band, 
who  had  previously  ransomed  from  the  Crows  a  beautiful  Black- 
foot  girl,  and  had  made  her  his  wife,  was  present  looking  on.  The 
girl  recognized  her  brother  among  the  Indians.  Instantly  leaving 
her  infant  with  Loretto,  she  rushed  into  her  brother's  arms,  and 
was  received  with  greatest  warmth  and  affection.  Bridger  now 
rode  forward  to  where  the  peace  ceremonies  were  enacting.  His 
rifle  lay  across  his  saddle.  The  Blackfoot  chief  came  forward  to 
meet  him.  Through  some  apparent  distrust  Bridger  cocked  his 
piece  as  if  about  to  fire.    The  chief  seized  the  barrel  and  pushed  it 


JIM  BRIDGER,  "OUR  FIRST  CITIZEN"  105 

downward  so  that  its  contents  were  discharged  into  the  ground. 
This  precipitated  a  melee.  Bridger  received  two  arrow  shots  in 
his  back,  and  the  chief  felled  him  to  the  earth  with  a  blow  from 
the  gun  which  he  had  wrenched  from  Bridger's  hand.  The  chief 
then  leaped  into  Bridger's  saddle  and  the  whole  party  made  for  the 
cover  of  the  rocks,  where  a  desultory  fire  was  kept  up  for  some- 
time. 

I  would  have  you  forget  Loretto,  the  girl  and  the  child,  and 
remember  the  arrowheads  Bridger  received  in  his  back.  One  of 
them  remained  there  for  nearly  three  years,  or  until  the  middle  of 
August,  1835.  At  that  time  Dr.  Marcus  Whitman  was  at  the 
trappers'  rendezvous  on  Green  river.  Bridger  was  also  there,  and 
Dr.  Whitman  offered  to  perform  a  surgical  operation.  Chitten- 
den, who  relates  the  story,  says : 

"The  operation  was  a  difficult  one  because  the  arrow  was  hooked 
at  the  point  by  striking  a  large  bone,  and  a  cartilaginous  substance  had 
grown  around  it.  The  doctor  pursued  his  work  with  great  self  posses- 
sion and  perseverance;  and  his  patient  manifested  equal  firmness.  The 
Indians  looked  on  meanwhile  with  countenances  indicating  wonder, 
and  in  their  own  peculiar  manner  expressed  great  astonishment  when 
it  was  extracted.  The  arrowhead  was  of  iron  and  was  about  three 
inches  long." 

Where  was  Jim  Bridger  for  the  following  eight  years  ?  Really, 
I  have  been  at  a  loss  to  learn,  except  that  he  was  a  daring  and 
fearless  spirit,  one  of  the  leaders  and  "proprietors"  of  the  Rocky 
Mountain  Fur  Company.  This  company  did  a  lot  of  business  and 
shipped  hundreds  of  bales  of  beaver  fur  from  the  mountains  to 
St.  Louis,  where  they  were  disposed  of  at  enormous  profits.  But 
somehow  the  other  man  always  got  the  profits  and  Bridger  got  the 
experience,  though  he  was  the  greatest  trapper  of  them  all.  At 
any  rate,  by  1843,  Bridger  was  a  poor  man.  The  fur  business  was 
rapidly  declining,  and  another  means  of  maintenance  had  to  be 
sought.  He  took  advantage  of  it  by  establishing  a  small  "Fort" 
on  Black's  Fork  of  the'  Green  River,  not  far  from  what  is  now 
Evanston,  Wyoming.  This  event  may  not  seem  to  have  any 
special  significance,  and  yet  one  historian  says,  "in  the  year  1843 
James  Bridger,  whose  name  will  always  be  prominent  in  western 
adventure,  built  a  post  on  a  tributary  of  Green  River,  a  water  of 
the  Pacific  ocean,  for  the  convenience  of  emigrants.  It  was  the 
first  trading  post  ever  built  beyond  the  Mississippi  for  this  pur- 
pose, and  its  establishment  marks  the  beginning  of  the  era  of 
emigration  into  the  Far  West." 

The  year  1847  found  Bridger  doing  business  at  a  squalid  fort 
on  Black's  Fork.  He  was  wont  to  take  the  lean,  worn  horses  of 
weary  travelers,  at  a  low  price,  feed  them  to  fatness  in  his  fertile 


106  IMPROVE  Ml  NT  ERA 

pastures  and  sell  them  at  a  considerable  profit  to  emigrants  fol- 
lowing. Also  he  had  had  a  sort  of  blacksmith's  shop  fixed  up  to 
repair    wagons. 

In  June,  1847,  history  tells,  Bridger  set  out  horseback  with 
two  of  his  men  on  a  business  trip  to  Fort  Laramie.  They  had  not 
gone  far  when  at  evening  time  they  decried  in  the  distance  a  car- 
avan of  wagons, — our  "Mormon"  Pioneers.  As  they  drew  near, 
President  Young  halted  the  trapper  and  invited  him  to  camp  with 
them  over  night.  A  careful  account  has  been  kept  of  what  went 
mi  ari nind  the  camp-fire  that  evening,  and  to  us  at  this  date  is 
most  interesting.  I  desire  to  reproduce  a  part  of  it  as  related  in 
Whitney's  History  of  Utah.  It  is  from  the  pen  of  William  Clay- 
tun  : 

There  is  no  blacksmith  shop  at  his  fort.  There  was  one  but  it  was 
destroyed.  From  Bridger's  fort  to  the  Great  Salt  Lake,  Hastings  said, 
was  about  one  hundred  miles.  Bridger  himself  had  been  through  fifty 
times  but  could  form  no  correct  idea  of  the  distance.  There  is  no 
timber  on  the  Utah  Lake,  but  some  on  the  streams  emptying  into  it. 
In  the  valleys  southeast  of  Utah  Lake  there  is  an  abundance  of  blue 
grass  and  white  clover.  Some  of  his  men  have  been  around  Salt  Lake 
in  canoes.  But  while  they  went  out  hunting,  their  horses  were  stolen 
by  the  Indians.  They  then  spent  three  months  going  around  the  lake 
in  canoes  hunting  beavers,  the  distance  being  five  hundred  and  fifty 
miles.  The  Utah  tribe  of  Indians  live  around  the  lake  and  are  a  bad 
people.  If  they  catch  a  man  alone  they  are  sure  to  rob  and  abuse  him, 
if  they  don't  kill  him,  but  parties  of  men  are  in  no  danger.  The  In- 
dians are  mostly  armed  with  guns. 

There  was  a  man  who  had  opened  a  farm  in  Bear  River  Valley, 
where  the  soil  is  good  and  likely  to  produce  grain,  were  it  not  for  the 
excessive  cold  nights.  lie  never  saw  any  grapes  on  the  Utah  Lake, 
but  there  are  plenty  of  cherries  and  berries  of  several  kinds.  He 
thinks  the  region  around  the  Utah  Lake  is  the  best  country  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Salt  Lake,  and  the  country  is  still  better  the  farther 
south  one  goes  until  the  desert  is  reached,  which  is  upwards  of  two 
hundred  miles.  There  is  plenty  of  timber  on  all  the  streams  and 
mountains  and  an  abundance  of  fish  in  the  streams.  He  passed  through 
the  country  a  year  ago  last  summer  in  the  month  of  July,  there  is  gen 
erally  one  or  two  showers  of  rain  every  day,  sometimes  very  heavy 
thunder  showers  but  not  accompanied  by  strong  winds.  He  said  we 
would  find  plenty  of  water  from  here  to  Bridger's  fort,  except  after 
crossing  the  Green  River,  when  we  have  to  travel  about  twenty  miles 
without  water.  But  there  is  plenty  of  grass.  We  need  not  fear  the 
Utah  Indians  for  we  could  drive  the  whole  cf  them  in  twenty-four 
hours.  Mr.  Bridger's  theory  was  not  to  kill  them,  but  make  slaves  of 
them.  The  Indians  south  of  Utah  Lake  raise  as  good  corn,  wheat  and 
pumpkins  as  wire  ever  raised  in  old  Kentucky. 


JIM  BRIDGER,  "OUR  FIRST  CITIZEN"  107 

Then  comes  the  oft  repeated  tale.  The  old  trapper  advised 
our  Pioneers  not  to  go  to  Salt  Lake  Valley.  It  was  a  barren, 
desert  place  and  would  not  raise  corn.  Had  they  heeded  him, 
might  not  the  history  of  the  West  have  been  changed? 


"Too  Much  to  Do' 


BY  WM.  HALLS 


I  want  to  express  to  you  my  appreciation  of  the  Era.  I  am 
always  glad  to  read  it.  I  consider  all  the  articles  good,  yet  some 
interest  me  more  than  others.  I  was  very  much  impressed  by  Dr. 
Gowan's  address  to  the  students  of  the  University  of  Utah.  I  can 
see  that  as  time  rolls  on,  and  conditions  change,  it  will  require 
intelligence  and  a  strong  will  to  see  and  choose  the  good  and  re- 
ject the  evil. 

Last  summer  I  traveled  about  six  hundred  miles  from 
Mancos  in  a  northwesterly  direction,  visiting  parts  of  Utah,  Colo- 
rado and  Idaho  and  talked  with  many  men  and  women,  and  nearly 
every  man  and  woman  complained  of  "too  much  to  do."  With  all 
our  mechanical  devices  and  labor-saving  inventions  we  are  over- 
worked. Since  I  have  been  unable  to  work  hard  and  travel  but 
very  little  I  have  had  more  time  to  read  and  study.  I  have  tried 
to  get  a  clearer  conception  of  values,  and  I  have  concluded  that 
there  is  something  wrong  with  the  person  who  has  "too  much  to 
do."  He  who  has  no  time  to  pray,  nor  to  study  the  scripture,  no 
time  for  spiritual  development, — such  a  person  is  not  in  a  normal 
condition.  I  believe  in  change,  in  progression,  but  with  it,  I  want 
wisdom,  intelligence  to  be  able  to  separate  the  wheat  from. the 
tares.  There  is  no  need  to  be  in  a  hurry,  advance  steadily,  be 
moderate  in  all  things.  Never  look  backward  and  sigh  for  the 
"good  old  times;"  they  will  never  return.  We  can't  see  the  old 
times  as  they  really  were.  "Distance  lends  enchantment  to  the 
scene."  We  don't  want  to  travel  over  the  rough  roads  our  fathers 
traveled.  Let  us  accept  the  light,  the  truth,  the  freedom  trans- 
mitted to  us,  but  seek  inspiration  to  detect  the  darkness,  the  error, 
and  the  bondage.  Let  us  "come  out  of  Babylon."  If  we  would 
profit  bv  the  advantages  that  we  eniov,  and  exercise  a  little  com- 
mon-sense, what  a  good  time  we  might  have.  I  believe  in  some 
things  as  fundamental  on  which  our  happiness  depends.  Faith  in 
God  as  our  Father,  in  Jesus  Christ  as  our  Redeemer,  in  the  efficacy 
of  prayer,  and  in  an  ever-aeting  Providence.  The  man  having 
this  in  good  working  order,  is  rich  ;  all  things  essential  are  within 
his  reach. 

MANCOS,    COLORADO 


IOWA  CITY 
From  an  old,   rare  photograph 

Belated- Emigrants  of  1856 


BY  SOLOMON  F.  KIMBALL 


II 

After  traveling  thirteen  hundred  miles  in  a  little  less  than 
thrity-nine  days,  Franklin  D.  Richards'  party  reached  Salt  Lake 
City,  October  4,  1856,  having  been  absent  from  home  about  three 
years.  Before  they  had  fairly  time  to  wash  the  dust  from  their 
sunburnt  faces,  they  reported  to  President  Brigham  Young  the 
precarious  condition  in  which  they  found  the  Willie  company 
when  they  passed  them  on  the  plains,  three  weeks  before,  on  their 
journey  from  Iowa  City  to  the  Great  Salt  Lake  Valley. 

As  soon  as  these  facts  leaked  out,  the  news  spread  like  wildfire, 
and  when  the  Monday  conference  convened,  President  Young 
said : 

"There  are  a  number  of  our  people  on  the  plains  who  have  started 
to  come  to  Zion  with  handcarts,  and  they  need  help.  We  want 
twenty  teams  by  tomorrow  morning  to  go  to  their  relief.  It  will  be 
necessary  to  send  two  experienced  men  with  each  wagon.  I  will  fur- 
nish  three  teams  loaded  with  provisions,  and  send  good  men  witli 
them,  and  Brother  Heber  C.  Kimball  will  do  the  same.  If  there  are 
any  brethren  present  who  have  suitable  outfits  for  such  a  journey  they 
will  please  make  it  known  at  once,  so  we  will  know  what  to  depend 
upon." 

President  Young  then  adjourned  conference  until  10  o'clock 
the  next  morning,  so  as  to  give  all  a  chance  to  help  get  things 
ready. 

Such  a  spirit  of  brotherly  love  as  was  shown  forth  by  the 
Latter-day  Saints  on  that  occasion  was  perhaps  never  before  wit- 


BELATED  EMIGRANTS  OF  1856 


109 


nessed  in  a  religious  community.  It  seemed  that  every  man, 
woman  and  child  within  the  limits  of  Salt  Lake  was  alive  to  the 
situation.  While  the  men  were  going  in  every  direction  gathering 
up  supplies,  the  women  were  making  quilts,  mending  underwear, 
knitting  mittens,  darning  socks,  patching  trousers,  and  even  tak- . 
ing  clothes  from  their  own  backs  to  send  to  the  shivering  pil- 
grims hundreds  of  miles  out  on  the  plains. 

The  evening  before  the  start  was  made,  the  twenty-seven 
young  men  who  composed  the  relief  party  were  called  together 
by  the  authorities  of  the  Church  and  given  their  final  instruc- 
tions, after  which  all  of  them  received  blessings  that  fairly  made 


OLD  FORT  BRIDGER  AS  IT  LOOKED  IN  PIOXEER  DAYS 

From  a  sketch  by  George  M.   Ottinger 


them  quake.     After  an  affectionate   parting,   the  boys   returned 
to  their  homes  for  a  good  night's  rest. 

About,  9  o'clock  next  morning,  sixteen  first-class  four-mule 
teams  were  seen  wending  their  way  towards  Emigration  Canyon, 
headed  for  ,the  east.  They  were  under  the  supervision  of  such 
men  as  George  D.  Grant,  William  H.  Kimball,  Joseph  A.  Young, 
Cyrus  H.  Wheelock,  James  Furguson  and  Chauncey  G.  Webb. 
With  them  were  such  noted  scouts  as  Robert  T.  Burton,  Charles 
F.  Decker,  Benjamin  Hampton,  Heber  P.  Kimball,  Harvey  H. 
Guff,  Thomas  Alexander,  Reddick  N.  Allred,  Ira  Nebeker, 
Thomas  Ricks,  Edward  Peck,  William  Broomhead,  Abel  Garr, 
C.  Allen  Huntington,  George  W.  Grant,  David  P.  Kimball, 
Stephen  Taylor,  Joel  Parish,  Charles  Grey,  Amos  Fairbanks, 
Daniel  W.  lones  and  Thomas  Bankhead. 


'  ^ 


ASCENDING   SOUTH   PASS,   GOING  EAST 
From  a  sketch  by  George  M.   Ottinger 

The  first  night  out  they  camped  at  the  foot  of  Big  Mountain, 
and  by  unanimous  vote  George  D.  Grant  was  elected  captain  of 
the  company,  and  William  H.  Kimball  and  Robert  T.  Burton  his 
assistants,  Cyrus  H.  Wheelock,  chaplain,  and  Charles  F.  Decker, 
guide. 

At  daylight  next  morning  they  continued  on  their  way,  driv- 
ing as  far  as  possible  each  day,  not  even  stopping  for  the  noon 
hour.  Stormy  weather  soon  set  in,  making  the  roads  well-nigh 
impassable.  Fort  Bridger  was  reached  on  the  12th,  but  not  a 
word  from  the  emigrants  had  reached  that  place.  Three  days 
later  they  arrived  at  Green  River,  and  still  no  word  from  them. 

By  this  time  the  boys  became  somewhat  alarmed,  as  they 
were  expecting  to  meet  the  Willie  company  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Fort  Bridger,  and  here  they  were  fifty-eight  miles  beyond. 
When  last  heard  from,  the  Martin  company  was  more  than  one 
hundred  miles  in  the  rear  of  the  Willie  company,  and  the  wagon 
trains  still  behind  them. 

After  discussing  matters  from  various  standpoints,  Joseph 
A.  Young  and  Cyrus  H.  Wheelock  were  sent  ahead  to  let  the 
emigrants  know  that  relief  was  at  hand,  and  to  urge  them  to 
push  on  towards  the  Valley,  as  rapidly  as  possible,  no  matter  what 
the  sacrifice  might  be.  There  were  more  than  1,500  pilgrims  to 
be  rescued,  and  sixteen  loads  of  provisions  divided  among  such 
a  number  would  not  last  many  days. 

Before  the  expressmen  were  fairly  out  of  sight,  their  com- 
panions were  again  moving.  They  were  anxious  to  cross  the 
divide  between  the  Wind  River  and  Green  River  Mountains  be- 
fore the  threatening  storms  overtook  them.     They  fully  realized 


112  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

what  it  meant  for  hundreds  of  worn-out  emigrants  to  be  caught 
in  the  early  storms  of  a  severe  winter,  hundreds  of  miles  out  in 
the  wilderness,  without  food  and  shelter. 

After  traveling  thirty-five  or  forty  miles  in  a  northeasterly 
direction,  winter  broke  in  upon  them  in  all  its  fury.  It  snowed 
for  three  days  and  nights  almost  incessantly,  with  a  cold  wind  con- 
stantly blowing  from  the  north.  The  roads  became  so  blocked 
with  snow  that  the  boys  were  compelled  to  double  teams  before 
they  were  able  to  reach  the  summit  of  the  Continental  Divide. 
Reddick  N.  Allred's  team  was  so  run  down  that  he  was  unable 
to  continue  the  journey.  The  snow  was  so  deep  at  South  Pass 
that  the  best  teams  in  the  outfit  could  hardly  draw  their  loads  on 
a  down-hill  pull. 

On  the  evening  of  the  20th,  they  turned  down  to  a  sheltered 


SEEKING    FOR    HELP 
From  a  sketch  by  George  M.   Ottinger 

place  on  the  Sweetwater,  and  camped  for  the  night,  for  men  and 
animals  were  completely  exhausted.  Just  as  they  were  located, 
here  came  Captain  Willie  and  Joseph  B.  Elder,  on  two  worn-out 
mules,  with  news  that  their  company,  east  of  Rocky  Ridge,  was  in 
a  freezing,  starving  condition,  and  would  perish  unless  immediate 
relief  was  given. 

The  boys  soon  hitched  their  teams  again  and  continued  on 
their  way  as  long  as  their  animals  could  stand  it.  At  daylight 
the  next  morning  another  start  was  made,  and  they  continued 
going  until  the  Willie  camp  was  reached.  Before  they  had  time 
to  alight   from  their   wagons   they   witnessed   sights  that  were 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  RELIEF  PARTY 

lm>    row:     \\  illiam    H.    Kimball,    James    Furguson;    second    row:    Thomas    E.    Ricks, 

Rcddick  N.  Allred;  bottom  row:  Harvey  H.  Cluff,  and  Benjamin  Hampton. 


BELATED  EMIGRANTS  OF  1856  115 

enough  to  move  the  hardest  heart.  These  poor  unfortunates, 
numbering  a  little  less  than  five  hundred,  were  caught  in  a  place 
where  there  was  neither  wood  nor  shelter.  They  had  not  had 
anything  to  eat  for  forty-eight  hours,  and  were  literally  freezing 
and  starving  to  death. 

The  Salt  Lake  boys  were  soon  mounted  on  harnessed  mules, 
with  axes  in  hand,  and  in  a  short  time  dragged  from  the  distant 
hills  several  cords  of  wood  to  the  Willie  camp  below.  Bonfires 
were  soon  made,  and  the  cooking  began  in  earnest,  every  available 
person  taking  a  hand.  This  was  kept  up  until  every  member  of 
the  Willie  company  had  enough  to  eat  and  to  spare.  Soon  there 
was  an  improvement  in  camp,  but  the  relief  came  too  late  for 
some,  and  nine  deaths  occurred  that  night. 

This  is  what  Brother  John  Chislett,  a  member  of  that  ill- 
fated  company,  had  to  say  about  that  portion  of  the  journey: 

"We  traveled  on  in  misery  and  sorrow,  day  after  day,  sometimes 
going  quite  a  distance,  and  at  other  times  we  were  only  able  to  walk 
a  few  miles.  We  were  finally  overtaken  by  a  snowstorm  which  the 
fierce  winds  blew  furiously  about  our  ears,  but  we  dare  not  stop,  as 
we  had  sixteen  miles  to  make  that  day  in  order  to  reach  wood  and 
water. 

"As  we  were  resting  at  noon,  a  light  wagon  from  the  west  drove 
into  camp,  and  its  occupants  were  Joseph  A.  Young  and  Cyrus  H. 
Wheelock.  Messengers  more  welcome  than  these  young  men  were 
to  us  never  came  from  the  courts  of  glory.  After  encouraging  us  all 
they  could,  they  drove  on  to  convey  the  glad  tidings  to  the  members 
of  the  Martin  company  which,  it  was  feared,  were  even  worse  off  than 
we.  As  they  went  from  our  midst  many  a  hearty  'God  bless  you'  fol- 
lowed them. 

"Just  as  the  sun  was  sinking  behind  the  distant  cliffs  west  of  our 
camp,  several  covered  wagons  were  seen  coming  towards  us.  The 
news  spread  through  the  camp  like  wildfire,  and  all  who  were  able 
turned  out  en  masse.  Shouts  of  joy  rent  the  air,  strong  men  wept,  and 
children  danced  with  gladness.  As  the  brethren  entered  our  camp  the 
sisters  fell  upon  them  and  deluged  them  with  their  tears  and  kisses. 
Our  rescuers  were  so  overcome  that  they  could  hardly  speak,  but  in 
choking  sdence  attempted  to  repress  the  emotions  that  evidently 
mastered  them.  Soon,  however,  the  ieeling  was  somewhat  abated,  and 
such  a  shaking  of  hands,  such  words  of  comfort,  and  such  invocations 
of  God's  blessings  were  never  before  witnessed.  Among  the  brethren 
who  came  to  our  rescue  were  Elders  William  H.  Kimball  and  George 
D.  Grant.  They  had  remained  in  the  Valley  but  two  days  before  start- 
ing back  to  our  relief.  May  God  ever  bless  them  for  their  generous, 
unselfish  kindness,  and  their  manly  fortitude.  How  nobly,  how  faith- 
fully, how  bravely  they  worKed  to  bring  us  to  the  Zion  of  our  God." 

The  next  morning,  agreeable  to  plans  adopted  by  the  relief 
party,  at  a  meeting  held  the  evening  before,  Captain  George  D. 
Grant,  with  seventeen  men  and  nine  teams,  pushed  on  to  the  relief 
of  the  Martin,  Hodgett  and  Hunt  companies,  taking  most  of  the 
provisions  with  him,  while  William  H.  Kimball,  with  the  re- 
mainder of  the  outfit,  started  back  to  Salt  Lake  in  charge  of  the 


MEMBERS   OF  THE  WILLIE  COMPANY 
Top  row:  Captain  James  Y.  Willie,  Assistant  Captain  Millen  M.  Atwood;  bottom  row: 
Joseph  B.  Elder  and  Margaret  D.  Cowan. 


BELATED  EMIGRANTS  OF  1856  117 

Willie  company.  It  was  late  in  the  day  before  Elder  Kimball 
got  the  handcart  people  started,  as  they  were  in  such  a  weakened 
condition.  About  forty  of  their  number  had  already  perished,  and 
others  were  dying. 

While  crossing  Rocky  Ridge,  many  of  the  Saints  frosted 
their  hands,  feet  and  faces,  the  weather  was  so  extremely  cold. 
The  next  morning  they  pushed  on  as  rapidly  as  possible,  as  they 
were  anxious  to  get  the  benefit  of  the  newly-broken  road,  before 
the  drifting  snow  filled  it ;  but  were  sadly  disappointed,  as  a 
fearful  blizzard  raged  throughout  the  whole  day.  They  were 
nearly  out  of  provisions  again,  and  had  to  travel  at  least  twenty 
miles  before  they  could  renew  their  supplies.  This  was  the  most 
disastrous  day  of  the  journey,  and  fifteen  of  their  number  died 
that  day. 

On  the  24th,  after  a  hard  day's  climb,  they  reached  South 
Pass,  where  flour  and  plenty  of  wood,  at  the  Allred  camp,  were 
found.  The  next  day  they  met  five  Valley  teams,  but  it  was 
deemed  advisable  to  have  them  go  to  the  relief  of  the  Martin 
company,  which  was  at  least  one  hundred  miles  in  the  rear.  These 
wagons  had  made  a  well-beaten  track  which  proved  of  much 
benefit  to  the  handcart  folks,  enabling  them  to  reach  Green  River 
by  the  last  of  the  month.  The  next  day  they  met  seven  teams 
from  Fort  Supply,  and  three  from  Salt  Lake.  From  there  on 
they  met  teams  every  day,  but  most  of  them  went  to  the  relief 
of  the  other  parties. 

When  they  arrived  at  Fort  Bridger,  on  the  2nd  of  Novem- 
ber, they  were  filled  with  joy  to  find  about  fifty  teams  that  had 
been  sent  from  the  settlements,  north  and  south  of  Salt  Lake,  to 
haul  them  the  remainder  of  the  way.  Up  to  this  time  about  one- 
sixth  of  their  number  had  died,  since  leaving  Iowa  City,  on  the 
morning  of  July  15. 

About  noon  on  the  9th  of  November,  William  H.  Kimball 
halted  his  sixty  wagon  loads  of  suffering  humanity  in  front  of 
the  Old  Tithing  Office  building,  where  Hotel  Utah  now  stands. 
The  company  was  greeted  by  hundreds  of  Salt  Lake  citizens  who 
were  anxiously  awaiting  their  coming.  The  scene  that  followed 
would  be  hard  to  describe.  In  less  than  an  hour  from  the  time 
that  ill-fated  company  reached  its  destination,  every  man,  woman 
and  child  that  belonged  to  it,  was  being  tenderly  cared  for  in  a 
manner  that  brought  tears  of  joy  to  their  bloodshot  eyes. 

(to  be  continued) 


Peculiar  Japanese  Religion 


BY   II.  G.  IVINS,  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  JAPAN    MISSION 


Missionaries  who  come  to  Japan  fall  into  a  world  of  new 
thought,  and  new  religion,  a  world  full  of  interest,  and  rich  with 
opportunity  for  the  student.  The  idea  that  truth  is  precious  above 
all  else  with  which  we  have  been  impressed,  leads  us  to  investi- 
gate this  great  realm  of  mystery,  as  far  as  we  are  able,  limited 
as  is  our  knowledge  of  the  Eastern  languages.  Thanks  to  men 
who  have  given  their  lives  to  the  spread  of  Christianity  in  the 
Orient  and  who  have  delved  into  the  store  house  of  Eastern 
thought,  we  are  able  to  learn  something  of  the  beliefs  of  this 
great  mass  of  humanity  whom  we  are  pleased  to  term  heathens. 

We  are  indebted  for  much  of  our  information  concerning  the 
religions  of  Japan  to  the  late  Rev.  Arthur  Lloyd,  who  came  to 
this  country  in  1885  and  worked  continually  on  his  study  of  the 
religions  of  the  Empire  until  his  death,  in  October  of  last  year 
(1912).  He  has  put  the  results  of  his  tireless  research  into  sev- 
eral most  scholarly  volumes  which  are  of  great  value  to  Christian 
missionaries  in  this  country. 

As  Mr.  Lloyd's  studies  unfolded  to  him  the  depths  of  Bud- 
dhist (Japanese)  he  was  impressed  with  what  he  considered  a 
marked  likeness,  in  the  teachings  of  the  Shinshu  sect,  to  the 
writings  of  St.  Paul,  and  with  one  point  which  differed  radically 
from  the  belief  of  other  Buddhist  sects.  This  apparent  closeness 
to  Christian  teachings  led  Mr.  Lloyd  to  double  his  exertions  in 
an  effort  to  gather  some  evidence  to  indicate  a  real  connection  be- 
tween Christianity  and  the  origin  of  this  Shinshu  sect.  Though 
he  was  unable,  in  his  long  search  among  the  temples  of  Japan, 
to  discover  the  copy  of  the  writings  of  St.  Paul,  which  he  fondly 
hoped  he  might  uncover,  he  did  gather  much  information  which 
greatly  strengthened  his  belief  that  the  Shinshu  creed  was  founded 
on  Christianity  rather  than  on  Buddhism  as  taught  by  the  great 
Shakyamuni. 

This  peculiarity  of  Shinshu,  which  Mr.  Lloyd  has  explained 
in  his  effort  to  show  that  Christianity  influenced,  if  it  did  not 
furnish  the  foundation  for,  the  whole  creed,  is  worthy  the  atten- 
tion of  any  student  of  religion,  especially  to  one  who  holds  the 
views  taught  by  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith. 

To  make  plain  to  our  Western  readers  the  foundation  of  the 
contention  that  the  teachings  of  Jesus  made  themselves  felt  in 
Japan  hundreds  of  years  ago,  it  will  be  necessary  to  state,  at  least 


PECULIAR   JAPANESE    RELIGION  119 

one  of  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  Buddhism,  and  then  show 
how  diametrically  opposed  is  this  thought  which  pervades  the 
Shinshu  teachings. 

The  doctrine  of  which  I  speak  has  been  thus  translated,  "By 
oneself  evil  is  done ;  by  oneself  one  suffers.  By  oneself  evil  is 
left  undone;  by  oneself  one  is  purified.  Purity  and  impurity  be- 
long to  oneself ;  no  one  can  purify  another."  This  is  one  way  of 
expressing  the  idea  that  fills  Buddhism,  that  man  must  not  look 
to  anyone  or  anything  outside  of  himself  for  help  in  his  effort  to 
conquer  self  and  obtain  the  Buddhahood.  There  is  in  the  great 
Indian  religion  no  idea  of  a  God  who  helps  man,  in  his  struggle 
to  obtain  perfection,  no  Father  to  forgive  when  his  children  err, 
no  Savior,  faith  on  whose  name  will  bring  salvation.  Man  must 
make  the  fight  alone,  depending  upon  his  strength  only  for  his 
entrance  into  Nirvana  and  Buddhahood.  The  idea  of  vicarious 
sacrifice,  and  of  salvation  by  faith  in  a  Redeemer,  seems  to  be 
entirely  absent. 

Knowing  such  to  be  the  unvarying  creed  of  Buddha  (as  far 
as  we  have  learned  it),  we  do  not  expect  to  find,  even  in  Japan 
where  that  creed  has  been  so  corrupted,  any  idea  of  a  Redeemer, 
as  we  understand  the  term.  But  study  reveals  to  us  that  here, 
where  we  least  expected  it,  is  a  sect  "the  youngest  and  by  far  the 
most  popular  of  them  all"  which  "carries  out  to  its  logical  con- 
clusions the  principle  of  salvation  by  faith  in  the  vow  of  Amida, 
the  One  Buddha."  Shinran,  the  founder  of  this  sect,  who  is  said 
to  have  been  born  1173  A.  D.,  composed  a  hymn  which  contains 
a  summary  of  the  teachings  of  Shinshu.  We  find  in  this  poem 
such  statements  as,  "He  [Nagarjuna,  about  A.D.  120]  taught  that 
the  way  of  salvation  by  one's  own  efforts  is  like  a  toilsome  jour- 
ney by  land,  that  the  way  of  faith  in  the  merits  of  another  is  as 
an  easy  voyage  in  a  fair  ship  over  smooth  waters,  that  if  man  put 
his  trust  in  the  fundamental  vow  of  Amida,  he  will  enter  at  once 
by  Buddha's  power  into  the  class  of  those  destined  to  be  born  into 
the  Pure  Land,"  and  "[Vasubandhu  taught]  with  a  view  to  the 
salvation  of  men  through  the  faith  in  another's  merits  which 
Amida  bestows  upon  us."  Without  inquiring  into  the  nature  of 
the  "Vow  of  Amida"  which  is  the  object  of  saving  faith,  we  rec- 
ognize in  the  passages  quoted,  as  in  almost  every  verse  of  the 
hymn,  a  Savior,  one  who  saves  if  men  will  believe  on  his  "funda- 
mental vow."  Here  is  a  Christian  idea,  and  it  seems  impossible 
to  account  for  it  as  having  its  source  in  Indian  Buddhism.  The 
question  arises  as  to  how  it  found  its  way  into  Japan.  It  is  here, 
it  is  Chrisitan,  no  matter  how  corrupted  in  the  working  out,  and 
there  is  an  opportunitv  for  some  one  to  take  up  the  subject  where 
Mr.  Lloyd  left  it,  and  trace  it  to  its  introduction  into  this  country. 
The  presence  in  Japan  of  this  "salvation  through   faith   in 


120 


I.M  I'KOVKMKXT    ERA 


another's  merits"  gives  US  a  new  interest  in  the  religions  of  this 
empire.  P.elirving,  as  we  do,  that  the  plan  of  salvation  was 
known  to  man  from  the  beginning,  we  think  it  not  improbable  that 
the  teaching  of  Shinshu  in  respect  to  a  Savior  (and  the  Shinshuist 
claims  that  this  teaching  originated  near  500  B.  C),  is  of  divine 
origin.  We  think  that,  had  Mr.  Lloyd  known  of  the  teachings 
of  Joseph  Smith  concerning  this  subject,  so  that  he  could  have 
gone  beyond  St.  Paul  looking  for  his  Savior,  he  might,  with  his 
untiring  work,  have  solved  the  problem  which  occupied  so  great 
a  part  of  his  life's  effort. 

TOKYO,    JAPAN 


This  is  a  picture  of  Elder  O.  D.  Romney,  president  of  the  New 
Zealand  Mission,  his  wife  and  three  sons.  Sister  Romney  and  William, 
their  youngest  son,  expected  to  sail  from  Auckland  for  home,  via  Van- 


couver, Nov.  21.  Elder  Romney  will  return  by  way  of  Europe,  visiting 
the  Holy  Land,  taking  with  him  his  two  eldest  sons,  O.  D.,  Jr.,  and 
Melbourne,  both  having  been  born,  and  filled  missions  in  New  Zealand, 
since  Elder  Romney  first  circumnavigated  the  globe,  22  years  ago, 
returning  then  from  his  first  mission. 


STAKE  SUPERINTENDENTS  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A. 

Top  row,  left  to  right:  David  L.  Pugh,  Kanab;  Walter  W.  Mor- 
rison, Sevier;  Franklin  Whitehouse,  Tooele;  Center:  J.  M.  Hixson, 
Summit;  third  row:  Le  Roy  Dixon,  Utah;  Hubert  C.  Burton,  North 
Davis;  Hugh  B.  Folsom,  Liberty;  bottom:  Dr.  William  M.  Cragun, 
Bear  River,  all  of  Utah. 


The  Last  Celebration  of  the  24th 

At    the  Birthplace  of  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith,  by  Prest. 

Ben  E.  Rich 


BY   GEORGE  ED.   ANDERSON 


A  number  of  elders  have  expected  something  in  the  Era 
about  the  celebration  at  the  Joseph  Smith  Monument,  on  the 
24th  of  July  last.  President  Ben  E.  Rich  was  there  at  the  time 
with  the  ciders,  and  his  recent  death  again  reminds  us  of  the 
often-expressed  desire  of  the  elders.  I  send  you  a  number  of 
views  which  were  taken  on  Pioneer  Day,  1913.  President  Rich 
took  such  an  interest  in  the  occasion,  and  did  so  much  to  make 
all  happy  at  that  time,  that  it  would  appear  now  to  be  very  ap- 
propriate that  the  Era  should  have  a  report  of  the  principal  in- 
cidents. 

Elder  Frank  L.  Brown,  who  is  in  charge  of  the  Joseph  Smith 
Memorial  Farm,  at  Sharon,  Vermont,  invited  the  elders  and 
Saints  in  the  New  England  states  to  observe  Pioneer  day  at  the 
birthplace  of  the  Prophet  Joseph.  There  was,  accordingly,  a 
gathering  of  the  elders  and  Saints  at  the  home  at  that  time.  Soon 
after  sunrise  the  Stars  and  Stripes  floated  on  Patriarch  Hill, 
(some  distance  from  the  monument)  raised  by  the  elders  and  sis- 
ters. President  Rich  felt  unable  to  make  the  climb,  but  asked 
the  brethren  and  sisters  to  sing,  after  they  had  raised  Old  Glory, 


SINGING   "MY  COUNTRY"   AND   "HIGH  ON  THE   MOUNTAIN   TOP. 
Patriarch  Hill,  Joseph   Smith  Memorial  Farm,  July  24,   1913. 


LAST  CELEBRATION  OF  BEN  E.  RICH 


123 


the  old  familiar  hymn  of  the  Latter-day  Saints,  "High  on  the 
Mountain  Top,"  and  "The  Star-spangled  Banner."  During  this 
performance  he  sat  on  the  broad  piazza  and  heard  and  enjoyed 
the  songs.  Elder  W.  D.  Robertson  offered  prayer,  and  Elder 
Joseph  Price  led  in  the  singing.  "High  on  the  Mountain  Top," 
"My  County,  'tis  of  Thee,"  "The  Star-spangled  Banner,"  "O 
Ye  Mountains  High,"  and  "We  Thank  Thee,  O  God,  for  a 
Prophet"  were  on  the  program.  During  the  stay  on  the  hill  a  pic- 
ture was  made  of  the  company.  On  the  way  down  a  patch  of 
wild  raspberries  were  found,  just  above  the  north  reservoir,  the 
taste  of  which  sharpened  our  appetite  for  a  delicious  breakfast 
which  Sister  Edwin  Clifford  had  prepared  at  the  farm  home. 

At  10  o'clock  a  meeting  was  held  in  the  large  tent,  at  which 
President  Rich  spoke.  He  remarked  that  it  was  very  appropriate 
that  we  celebrate  the  entrance  of  the  Pioneers  into  the  valley  of 
the  Great  Salt  Lake,  at  this,  the  birthplace  of  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith,  who  had  predicted  that  the  Latter-day  Sains  would  go  to 
the  Rocky  Mountains  and  become  a  mighty  people.    He  was  the 


crottp  of  missionaries  on  patriarch  hill. 

Looking    toward    the    cottage.       White    River    valley    and    "Kent's    Lodge."    jnst     above 
South    Royalton,    outlined    in    the    hazy    distance. 


mainspring  of  that  movement,  and  Brigham  Young,  who  stood 
at  the  head,  knew  that  God  had  spoken  to  the  Prophet  Joseph. 
The  humblest  man  and  woman  who  were  faithful  knew  also  that 
these  men  were  guided  by  inspiration.  The  gospel  has  done 
much  for  the  young  people.     It  is  the  labor  of  the  Pioneers,  and 


124 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


their  abiding  faith  in  the  misison  of  Joseph  Smith  that  have 
given  us  the  blessings  we  enjoy,  and  the  privileges  of  declaring 
the  gospel  message  which  was  restored  to  him  from  on  high. 
He  invited  all  who  were  present  to  speak  and  to  say  of  what 
generation  they  were,  for  it  had  been  said  that  "Mormonism" 
would  die  with  the  third  or  fourth  generation.  He  asked  what 
answer  they  had  to  give  to  that  prediction. 

Most  of  those  present  bore  their  testimony  and  stated  how 
the  gospel  had  brought  their  parents  and  grandparents  together, 
and  the  joy  and  the  satisfaction  they  themselves  had  in  coming 
to  this  sacred  spot  and  enjoying  the  spirit  of  peace  that  here 
prevailed. 

Sister  Laura  Rich  told  of  the  experiences  of  her  parents  in 
the  handcart  company. 

President  Rich  introduced  Sister  Georgia  Snow  Thatcher, 
the  daughter  of  Erastus  Snow.  Her  father,  and  Orson  Pratt, 
were  in  the  valley  of  Salt  Lake  a  day  or  two  before  the  Pioneers, 
and  selected  the  site  for  their  camp.  She  expressed  herself  as 
happy  to  be  at  the  birthplace  of  the  Prophet,  and  in  the  land  where 
here  parents  were  born. 

Elder  Frank  L.  Brown  expressed  himself  as  pleased  to  have 
so  many  visit  him  at  this  sacred  spot,  where,  he  believed,  we  had 
all  tried  to  have  our  spirits  attuned  to  the  spirit  of  the  place.  His 
father,  as  a  young  man  seventeen  years  of  age,  was  a  member  of 
the  "Mormon"  Battalion.  As  he  spoke  of  his  mother  and  the 
trials  she  had  endured  as  a  Pioneer,  tears  dimmed  his  eyes,  all 
who  heard  him  were  melted,  and  their  hearts  were  softened  lis- 


PREST.   BEX   E.   RICH,   ELDER?    AND    SAINTS,    EVENING   OF  JULY  24,    1913 


LAST  CELEBRATION  OF  BEN  E.  RICH  125 

tening  to  the  experiences  he  related  of  faithful  fathers  and  moth- 
ers who  had  made  it  possible  for  the  desert  to  blossom  as  the 
rose. 

President  Rich  said  that  the  elders  who  were  laboring  on  the 
Joseph  Smith  Memorial  Farm  were  doing  just  as  great  a  work  as 
those  who  were  in  the  service  distributing  gospel  literature.  He 
wished  them  to  strengthen  the  hands  of  Brother  and  Sister  Brown, 
and  invited  them  to  give  the  place  their  best  efforts.  The  meet- 
ing was  dismissed  by  Kenneth  Brown,  one  of  the  fifth  generation 
of  Latter-day  Saints. 

At  2  o'clock  a  bounteous  dinner  was  served  by  Sister  Brown 
and  her  sisters  Mary  and  Jessie  Tibbs,  a  gentle  rain  cooling  the 
atmosphere  and  making  the  surroundings  and  the  situation  very 
pleasing  indeed. 


! '       ELDERS  PLAYING  BASEBALL  ON  SLOPE  OF  MISSIONARY  HILL, 
Joseph    Smith    Memorial    Farm,   July   24,    1913. 

In  the  evening  the  living  room  of  the  Memorial  Cottage  was 
crowded  with  neighbors  and  friends  who  had  come  at  the  invita- 
tion of  Brother  and  Sister  Brown  to  meet  President  Rich  and  the 
elders  and  Saints  and  listen  to  a  program  of  the  songs  of  Zion, 
readings,  instrumental  music,  etc.  Elder  Brown  welcomed  his 
neighbors  and  introduced  President  Rich,  who  said  it  was  very 
litting  that  around  the  hearthstone  where  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith  was  born,  we  should  commemorate  the  entrance  of  the 
Pioneers  into  the  valley  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake,  for  it  was  his 
prophetic  vision  which  had  seen  the  Latter-day  Saints  driven  and 
plundered,  that  many  should  lose  their  lives,  and  that  they  would 
go  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  become  a  mighty  people.     The 


12o 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


presence  of  these  elders  at  this  place  is  a  testimony  of  the  fulfil- 
ment of  that  prophecy.  "No  Vermonter  need  be  ashamed  of  the 
Prophet  Joseph  Smith.  No  other  man  born  in  Vermont  is  so 
widely  known  the  world  over  as  this  same  Prophet  of  the  latter 
days.  His  name  has  been  had  for  good  and  evil,  just  as  the  angel 
Moroni  predicted  that  it  would  be.  We  are  here  to  speak  good 
of  him,  for  we  knew  he  was  sent  of  God,  and  has  revealed  the 
gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  in  its  purity  to  the  world  to  prepare  the 
nations  and  the  people  thereof  for  the  second  coming  of  the 
Savior.  You  are  invited  to  look  into  his  life,  and  you  shall  find 
that  he  was  a  man  of  God,  and  worthy  of  your  respect  and  con- 
fidence." 

Elder  Joseph  Price  sang,  "Joseph  the  Seer."  Elder  N.  B. 
West  gave  a  violin  solo.  Sister  Brown  and  Ada  Stark  gave 
readings,  and  Sister  Mary  Tibbs  sang  an  original  song.  Sister 
Eliza  O.  Borgsson  also  sang  a  song.  Many  others,  called  to 
take  part  extemporaneously,  responded  as  they  were  invited  by 
Brother  Brown.  President  Rich,  not  feeling  well,  retired  before 
the  program  was  finished.  The  exercises  in  the  cottage  were 
closed  with  prayer,  and  on  the  piazza  afterwards,  all  who  desired 
refreshed  themselves  with  watermelons  and  engaged  themselves 
in  interesting  conversation. 

On  the  evening  of  the  24th,  the  company  had  a  portrait 
taken  on  the  lawn,  sloping  south  toward  the  lily  pond,  with  the 
cottage  and  the  monument  in  the  background.     President  Rich 


PRF.ST.   BEN  E.   RTCH,  JULY  24,   1913 


LAST  CELEBRATION  OE  BEN  E.  RICH  127 

left  for  New  York  on  the  25th,  not  feeling  very  well.  It  was 
hisjast  visit. 

Most  of  the  elders  and  Saints  remained  until  after  the  28th, 
and  before  returning  to  their  fields  of  labor,  a  testimony  meeting 
was  held  in  the  Memorial  Cottage,  on  Sunday,  the  27th,  in  which 
all  expressed  themselves  as  having  been  greatly  blessed  by  their 
visit  and  experience  at  the  Prophet's  birthplace. 

On  the  28th,  before  separating,  the  visitors  gathered  around 
the  old  well,  where  they  sang  "The  Old  Oaken  Bucket."  They 
also  visited  Sophronia  Glen,  where  Sister  Mary  Tibbs  sang  an 
original  song  composed  for  Elders  C.  E.  Monson  and  William 
D.  Robertson,  who  had  been  laboring  on  the  farm  and  were  now 
transferred  to  another  part  of  the  mission.  Prayer  was  offered 
by  Elder  Frank  L.  Brown,  who  petitioned  the  Lord  to  bless  the 
elders  who  had  labored  with  him  on  the  farm,  as  well  as  all  who 
had  been  present  at  this  gathering,  that  they  might  carry  with 
them  the  spirit  of  the  place  into  their  various  fields  of  labor,  that 
they  mighty  more  acceptably  work  for  the  glory  of  God  and  his 
cause  restored  to  earth. 

Around  the  automobile  as  they  were  gathered  to  part,  they 
sang  the  song,  "God  be  with  you  till  we  meet  again."  And  thus 
closed  the  happy  time  experienced  at  the  Joseph  Smith  Memorial 
Farm,  at  the  celebration  of  Pioneer  day,  1913. 

SHARON,  VERMONT 


Forgiveness 


My  heart  was  heavy,  for  its  trust  had  been 

Abused,  its  kindness  answered  with  foul  wrong; 

So,  turning  gloomily  from  my  fellow-men, 
One  summer  Sabbath  day  I  strolled  among 

The  green  mounds  of  the  village  burial-place; 
Where,  pondering  how  all  human  love  and  hate, 
Find  one  sad  level;  and  how,  soon  or  late, 

Wronged  and  wrongdoer,  each  with  meekened  face. 
And  cold  hands  folded  over  a  still  heart, 

Pass  the  green  threshold  of  our  common  grave, 
Whither  all  footsteps  tend,  whence  none  depart; 

Awed  for  myself,  and  pitying  my  race, 
Our  common  sorrow,  like  a  mighty  wave, 
Swept  all  my  pride  away,  and,  trembling,  I  forgave^ 

John  Greenleaf  Whittier. 


Voice  of  the  Intangible 


I!Y  ALBERT  R.  LYMAN 


Chapter  XIX — The  Way  of  the  Transgressor 

The  yellow  cottonwood  leaves  of  Castle  Gulch  fluttered  in 
crooked  lines  to  the  sand,  and  assembled  in  heaps  and  ridges 
against  cliff  and  bank  before  the  autumn  wind,  as  Ben  and  Juan 
made  camp  at  Greenwater,  enroute  to  Pagahrit.  Juan  rode  his 
double-action  pintos,  and  sang  his  everlasting  "Chili  con  came," 
with  the  same  everlasting  addle-pated  good-will  and  willingness 
that  always  made  him  a  good  fellow  to  have  around.  Something 
in  his  wanton  disregard  of  danger  and  hard  work  won  its  way  to 
Ben's  approbation,  and  he  often  found  himself  gaping  with 
dropped  jaw  at  the  hump-shouldered,  roman-nosed,  figure  who 
made  the  lash-ropes  sing  back  and  forth  as  the  packs  went  on 
and  off.  Juan's  ambidexterity  with  the  diamond  hitch  amounted 
almost  to  a  slight-of-hand  performance. 

So  we  see  that  wiry  little  greaser  would  work  and  sweat,  and 
sing  smilingly  about  the  came  and  the  lechc  con  pan,  till  every 
man  and  horse  was  completly  fagged,  and  thus  give  strength  to 
the  weary  and  hope  to  the  dying.  Ben  resolved,  if  possible,  to  ap- 
propriate this  concentrated  essence  of  New  Mexico  to  his  own 
business,  at  forty  dollars  a  month,  or  more  if  necessary. 

"Did  you  never  got  to  saw  nothing  of  dat  Flossy  mare  no 
more?"  asked  Rido,  as  they  sat  down  to  supper  at  Greenwater. 

"I've  never  seen  a  sign  of  her  since  last  fall,"  answered  Ben. 
cudgeling  his  brain  to  discover  why  he  had  associated  her  disap- 
pearance with  old  Spy's  dried-up  cackle  on  the  morning  of  the 
st impede  in  the  rain. 

"I  tink  some  dem  speerit  swiped  her  away  from  us,"  phil- 
osophized the  Mexican,  looking  up  with  a  half-apologetic  face  for 
a  superstition  which  he  nevertheless- believed  sincerely. 

"I  can't  prove  that  you're  wrong,"  smiled  young  Rojer.  "But 
say,  as  we  came  up,  I  saw  cow-tracks  at  the  pond,  and  it  strikes 
me  they're  the  bunch  that  got  away  from  us  last  spring.  We  ought 
to  see  'em." 

"What  yu  say  we  round  'em  up  tomorrow"." 

It  was  agreed  to  ride  Horse  Canyon  the  following  day,  and 
sunrise,  found  the  two  cowboys  examining  the  tracks  on  its  sand- 
hills, and  following  the  direction  of  the  dry  waterway  northward 


VOICE  OF  THE  INTANGIBLE  129 

from  Castle  Gulch.  Cow-tracks  in  the  sand  may  appear  old  in 
an  hour,  or  fresh  in  three  weeks,  and  five  miles  north  of  the  gulch, 
the  indications  of  cattle  were  as  strong  as  anywhere  else.  Two 
miles  farther  north  all  the  tracks  petered  out,  and  not  a  cow  in 
sight. 

The  two  riders  had  crossed  the  divide  between  Horse  Can- 
yon and  a  similar  canyon  leading  off  to  the  north.  They  saw 
neither  water  nor  tracks,  but  a  new  country  into  which  Ben  fan- 
cied a  white  man  had  never  been.  It  may  be  that  the  new  coun- 
try stimulated  his  curiosity,  but  certain  it  is  that  something  led 
him  and  his  Mexican  on  and  on — out  through  a  side  branch  of 
the  canyon  into  which  they  had  gone,  and  down  another  sandy 
slope  to  the  north. 

They  may  have  been  eighteen  miles  from  Castle  Gulch  when 
they  rode  out  on  the  "brow  of  a  high,  broken  cliff.  A  deep,  wide 
gulch  lay  below  them,  with  apparently  no  trail  leading  to  the  bot- 
tom. It  may  have  been  a  branch  of  what  is  called  Red  Canyon, 
or  it  may  have  found  its  way  independently  to  the  Colorado  River. 

Whether  the  gulch  was  named  or  nameless,  young  Rojer 
resolved  to  go  down  into  it.  He  had  a  vague  idea  of  finding  grass 
and  water,  but  greater  than  that,  he  felt  the  ticklish  spur  of 
curiosity — a  desire  to  discover  some  mysterious  treasure  which 
might  lay  unclaimed  in  the  unexplored.  What  could  it  be — a 
cliff-house,  mummies  and  dishes  and  plunder?  Those  things 
could  be  there  for  all  of  the  superstitious  Pahutes.  No  differ- 
ence, it  was  something,  and  it  called  to  Ben  from  the  rock-bound 
valley  to  come  down  and  hunt  it  out. 

They  prospected  the  broken  rim  in  both  directions,  and 
began  to  wonder  whether  they  really  did  want  to  go  down,  when 
a  horse  came  in  sight  on  the  hills  below  them.  That  settled  it. 
They  would  reach  the  bottom  if  they  had  to  go  on  foot,  and  slide 
over  their  lasso  ropes  down  the  first  ledge.  The  rope  plan  was 
unnecessary,  for  Juan  sang  his  thirsty  self  into  the  head  of  an 
old  Indian  trail,  and  the  two  horsemen  covered  its  winding  length 
down  the  rough  hillside. 

It  brought  them  out  a  mile  below  the  horse,  and  having  no 
excuse  other  than  the  lone  brute  to  lead  them  on,  they  turned 
promptly  up  the  canyon,  coming  at  once  upon  a  beaten  trail  and 
fresh  horse  tracks.  Their  raging  thirst  interpreted  the  trail  to 
mean  water,  so  across  the  gulch  and  into  a  cove  they  followed 
it,  and  there  by  a  pool  stood  the  ghost  of  what  used  to  be  a  dog. 
He  half-threatened  and  half-welcomed  them ;  he  frisked  towards 
them  and  then  ran  growling  away. 

"By  George!  that's  Spy's  dog,"  blurted  Ben,  at  the  same 
time  wondering  if  the  dreadful  artillery  might  boom  forth  from 
behind  some  rock.  They  took  barely  time  to  drink  and  water  their 
horses  before  turning  enquiringly  upon  the  ghastly  little  quadru- 


130  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

ped,  to  learn  all  that  his  dumb  tongue  did  not  hinder  him  from 
telling.  He  had  moped  half  way  up  a  trail  on  the  hillside,  and 
sat  there  on  his  haunches  with  his  woe-begone  eyes  upon  them. 

Then  Rido's  black  eyes  made  a  discovery:  at  the  top  of  the 
trail,  a  cave  had  been  transformed  into  a  veritable  Robinsun 
Crusoe  house.  Both  cowboys  dropped  the  reins  and  started  for 
it  afoot.  The  dog  still  protested  uncertainly,  till  Ben  placed  a  re- 
assuring hand  on  his  withered  head,  and  the  two  became  friends 
on  the  spot.  Juan,  without  thought  of  being  bombarded,  bolted 
up  the  trail,  leaving  his  employer  to  study  those  sorrowful  dog 
eyes,  and  listen  to  the  silent,  piteous  tale  of  poverty  and  woe  told 
in  the  dog-language  learned  years  ago  from  old  Bowse. 

But  lightning  on  a  limb !  Down  that  hill,  as  from  a  catapult 
came  Juan  Rido,  covering  no  less  than  ten  feet  at  a  step.  "El 
diablo!  El  diablo!"  he  shouted,  stampeding  Ben  and  the  dog  and 
the  horses  all  at  the  same  time.  Young  Rojer  wouldn't  have 
given  ten  cents  for  his  chances  ;  he  felt  sure  that  a  projectile  would 
splash  through  him  before  he  could  reach  cover — but  it  didn't. 

That  skeleton  of  a  dog  stayed  devotedly  near  while  he 
crouched  behind  a  rock,  and  showed  no  desire  to  leave  him  while 
he  hunted  Juan  and  the  horses,  and  corrected  the  general  disor- 
der of  the  headlong  retreat. 

For  some  time  the  frightened  Rido  could  do  nothing  but 
quake  and  shake  his  head  saying,  "El  diablo!  El  diablo!"  How- 
ever, he  consented  at  length  to  follow  if  Ben  would  lead,  and  up 
that  hill  they  marched,  reinforced  by  the  superannuated  puppy. 
How  carefully  the  leader  peeped  in,  while  his  wide-eyed  follower 
would  have  bolted  at  the  drop  of  a  hat. 

At  first  young  Rojer  saw  nothing  in  the  dark,  windowless 
room,  though  a  sickening  smell  oozed  out  through  the  rude,  ax- 
hewn,  cedar  doorway.  With  eyes  more  accustomed  to  the  shade, 
he  traced  the  outline  of  a  rude  bunk,  and  on  it  old  Spy,  either 
dead  or  asleep.  The  old  man  was  no  poorer  nor  more  weazened 
than  he  had  been  for  years  past,  and  the  socket  of  his  jaw  showed 
no  plainer  than  at  other  times.  But  his  dried-up  eyes — Ugh !  no 
wonder  Juan  stampeded ;  "El  diablo"  himself  could  show  no  more 
frightful  face  to  save  his  tail  from  the  knife.- 

The  miserable  cooking  utensils  around  the  wretched  old  fire- 
place had  been  idle  a  long  time,  and  the  precious  tubacker  lay 
on  a  dirty  ledge  of  the  wall,  covered  with  dust.  No  coyote,  or 
rat,  or  beast  or  insect  of  any  kind  in  that  canyon  had  minced  at 
the  old  hermit's  tobacco,  or  his  tobacco-soaked  being.  The  half 
plug  and  the  pickled  remains  of  Charley  Spy  would  dry  there  un- 
molested forever. 

Whether  the  old  man  had  suffered  or  not  no  one  knew,  and 
Ben  had  no  stomach  to  touch  the  greasy  old  pocket-book  on  the 
dead  man's  breast.     It  might  have  told  something  of  Kentucky 


VOICE  OF  THE  INTANGIBLE  131 

and  a  life  of  crime  and  exile,  but  the  two  cowboys  bolted  for  the 
fresh  air,  leaving  the  book  and  its  contents  to  rot  together.  They 
didn't  touch  the  dreadful  six-shooter,  peeping  from  under  a  more 
dreadful  pillow,  nor  the  cannon-Winchester  leaning  against  the 
wall  at  the  head  of  the  bed.  It  was  a  place  and  a  face  never  to 
be  lost  from  mind,  and  glancing  back  over  his  shoulder,  as  he 
went  down  the  hill,  Ben  mused  to  himself,  "The  way  of  the 
transgressor  is  hard." 

That  ghost  of  a  dog,  which  used  to  be  Mike,  followed  his 
newly-found  master  out  into  the  canyon  and  up  to  the  lone  horse. 
There  were  three  horses :  the  sorrowful  sorrel,  now  fat  and  sleek, 
a  gray  mare  and  Flossy.    "By  George!"  gasped  Ben. 

"El  diablo  vie  jo!"  echoed  the  astonished  Rido. 

It  was  late  that  night  when  the  camp-fire  blazed  up  at  Green- 
water,  and  later  still  when  the  pacing  mare  had  been  safely  hob- 
bled with  the  other  horses,  and  Mike  had  eaten  his  first  square 
meal  for  a  long  time. 

Since  they  started  for  camp  with  Flossy,  late  in  the  afternoon, 
Juan  had  been  unusually  meditative.  When  he  sat  down  cross- 
legged  by  the  frying-pan  to  help  eat  the  meal,  which  would  have 
been  supper  five  hours  earlier  in  the  evening,  he  seemed  to  have 
matured  his  philosophy  to  the  talking  point.  "How  did  he  got  dat 
mare  away,  and  don't  leave  no  tracks  ?"  he  demanded,  point  blank. 

"Oh,  he  led  her  around  on  the  rock,"  explained  Ben.  "Any- 
body could  do  that." 

But  Juan  preferred  to  believe  differently,  and  asked  by  his 
incredulous  smile,  "Didn't  I  told  you  it  was  a  speerit?" 

The  cattle  from  Horse  Canyon  came  up  to  the  pond  early  in 
the  morning,  and  Ben  branded  two  calves  and  moved  his  outfit 
on  to  Pagahrit  that  day. 

The  trip  was  not  intended  as  a  round-up,  and  the  two  cow- 
boys made  the  usual  rides,  branded  the  long-cared  calves,  and 
started  home  two  weeks  from  the  time  they  reached  the  lake. 
With  his  liberal  rations  of  beef,  Mike  became  a  new  dog,  and 
doubly  devoted  to  his  new  master.  Flossy  was  not  new  at  all,  but 
the  same  bird-like  conveyance  she  had  ever  been,  carrying  young 
Roi'er  over  the  sand  with  an  ease  which  made  riding  a  keen 
delight. 

While  camped  at  the  lake,  Ben  visited  his  cave  with  the  same 
devotion  that  he  would  have  paid  to  the  old  log  meetinghouse  if 
he  had  been  at  home.  He  reported  to  the  dry,  echoing  walls  that 
lie  was  nearer  alone  than  ever  before ;  he  told  them  that  "his  spirit 
was  willing,  but  his  flesh  was  desperately  weak,"  as  he  found 
himself  nearer  to  the  evil  day  when  a  fell  shape  would  appear  in 
the  distance.  He  halted  on  the  rock-knolls  with  a  heavy  heart,  and 
listened  to  the  ever-constant  whispering  from  the  wilds  all  around. 


132  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

With  a  far-away  look  he  sang  his  homemade  song',  and  dwelt  with 
tear-dimmed  eyes  on  the  line : 

"Watching  and  waiting,  and  hoping  with  fear." 

Chapter  XX— A  Half -Bushel  of  Oats 

As  Hen  and  his  Mexican  returned  from  that  fall  ride  they 
passed  an  Indian  camp  four  miles  east  of  Rincone.  Tt  presented 
no  unusual  appearance— simply  two  clusters  of  wickiups  crown- 
ing two  sand-knolls,  and  a  bunch  of  cayuses  standing  wearily 
near  in  saddle  and  bridle.  Besides  that,  a  little  swarm  of  papooses 
romped  with  big  din  on  the  sand,  and  what  appeared  to  be  a 
heated  game  of  cards  occupied  the  shady  side  of  one  wickiup.  The 
game  seemed  to  be  between  Pahutes  and  Navajos,  the  latter  hav- 
ing probably  come  over  from  the  reservation  for  that  purpose. 

Neither  of  the  returning  cowboys  took  much  notice,  however, 
being  at  the  time  absorbed  in  one  of  Juan's  thrilling  ghost  stories. 
Half  a  mile  on  to  the  east,  in  the  bottom  of  a  swale,  they  dis- 
covered an  Tndian  coming  towards  them  as  fast  as  he  could  whip. 
The  same  glance  which  caught  sight  of  him,  caught  his  wild 
signal  to  them  to  stop  where  they  stood  till  he  reached  them.  On 
he  came,  full  drive,  a  tall,  broad  man,  riding  a  wiry  black  mustang ; 
and  as  he  sped  out  of  the  dimness  of  distance,  behold  he  was 
Jimmy.  He  thrust  forth  his  sinewy  hand  with  that  old  salutation 
which  dates  from  the  race  and  the  wrestle  on  day-herd  at  Rin- 
cone. 

"A  Pahute  has  your  mare,"  he  began  hurriedly  to  explain  in 
his  own  language.  "The  Pahute's  boy  is  coming  on  the  mare 
from  town ;  the  Pahute  is  running  down  there  along  the  river  to 
pass  you  and  tell  the  boy  to  hide.  You  hurry ;  meet  the  boy ;  get 
the  mare." 

Navajo  may  not  be  literally  translated  to  English,  but  this  is 
substantially  what  young  Rojer's  brother  said,  and  then  motioned 
Ben  to  hurry,  nor  stop  to  say  thanks  or  anything  else. 

Flossy  carried  the  boss  of  the  Rojer  outfit  that  afternoon, 
and  when  she  felt  a  slack  rein  and  a  rattle  of  spurs,  she  took  the 
hint  and  began  to  leave  the  trail  behind  at  a  dizzy  clip.  The 
anxious  father,  racing  along  the  river  bank,  must  have  fallen 
hopelessly  to  the  rear,  for  he  made  no  appearance  at  all. 

Four  miles  ahead  Ben  met  a  youthful  Pahute,  whom  he  rec- 
ognized as  one  of  the  smaller  fry  that  used  to  stand  half-clad 
around  the  fire  at  Peavine,  seven  years  before.  The  boy  rode 
Alec's  mother,  a  mare  which,  though  good  to  ride,  had  been  ex- 
cused from  all  hard  work  so  long  as  she  raised  a  valuable  colt 
each  year.  She  had  evidently  been  some  time  in  the  service  of 
the  Soorowits  family,  for  her  flesh  was  woefully  lean,  and  a 
veritable  pudding  of  a  sore  bloomed  on  her  back. 


VOICE  OF  THE  INTANGIBLE  133 

To  say  the  sight  made  Ren  Rojer  angry  would  be  a  very 
weak  statement  of  facts ;  but  he  recalled  some  features  of  the 
past,  nor  forgot  a  dread  forecast  of  the  future.  With  as  much 
mild  firmness  as  posisble,  he  put  the  boy  and  his  butcher-knife 
saddle  afoot  on  the  sand ;  and  tieing  his  lasso  around  the  poor 
old  mare's  neck,  waited  by  the  trail  for  Juan  and  the  packs. 

"Where's  this  mare's  colt?"  he  demanded  of  the  unhorsed 
Pahute,  but  that  enterprising  descendant  of  a  horse-thief  had 
fallen  into  a  profound  case  of  Pahute  sulks,  and  pushed  his  sullen 
lips  out  so  far  that  Ben  fairly  itched  to  slap  them  back  into  place 
No  doubt  he  would  have  done  it,  presto,  but  for  a  boding  and 
whispering  which  held  him  constantly  back.  The  colt,  like  his 
ill-fated  brother,  a  promising  bay,  was  likely  being  jostled  and 
starved  about  with  the  sickly  snarl  of  sore-backed  cayuses 
dragged  along  with  the  Soorowits  camp. 

The  men  of  the  town  regarded  Ben's  old  mare  with  scowls- 
of  honest  protest,  but  no  one  seemed  at  all  eager  to  make  trouble 
for  Soorowits,  nor  to  take  anv  action  which  would  possiblv  incur 
his  testy  displeasure.  He  might  easily  have  fled  to  Pagahrit,  Nav- 
ajo Mountain,  or  some  other  safe  retreat,  and  he  probably  would 
have  gone  without  delay,  but  for  the  winkerless  wench  who  told 
him  what  to  do  and  when  to  refrain. 

This  winkerless  woman  brought  him  to  town  next  morning. 
and  stimulated  him  to  take  the  mare  from  the  stable.  He  tried 
it,  but  at  the  door  he  met  voung  Rojer  looking  the  stern  senti- 
ment which  needed  no  further  expression.  Next  he  repaired  to 
the  village  store  and  breathed  out  wicked  threats,  among  other 
things  declaring  that  Ben  would  disappear  from  the  earth  if  the 
animal  in  question  were  not  returned  to  him  at  once. 

When  he  had  gone  cursing  and  fuming  to  camp,  the  wise 
men  of  the  town  began  to  recognize  the  case  as  a  matter  not  to 
be  winked  at,  for  all  of  the  peace  policy  to  which  they  adhered. 
After  having  Ben  swear  out  a  complaint  they  hunted  up  a  deputy 
sheriff',  and  providing  themselves  with  firearms,  followed  the 
storming  redman  to  his  wickiup. 

When  they  came  up,  Mrs.  Soorowits  looked  slowly  and  hiss- 
ingly  around,  exactly  like  a  snake  getting  ready  to  strike.  Her 
winkerless  eyes  rested  spitefully  on  the  posse  in  general  and  each 
one  in  particular,  but  at  Ben  she  looked  all  the  venom  of  the  whole 
serpent  family. 

The  deputy  sheriff  had  planned  for  part  of  the  men  to  stand 
guard  outside,  while  the  others  crowded  into  the  frail  house 
where,  bv  quick  action  and  main  force,  he  hoped  to  land  his  man 
without  firing  a  gun. 

Six  wickiups  made  up  the  camp.  Buhhre  smilingly  occupied 
one  of  them,  for  he  had  made  two  or  three  matrimonial  ventures, 
but  always  with  the  understanding  that  the  bride  was  only  a  pro- 


134  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

bationer — that  she  must  be  discarded  the  moment  she  became  dis- 
obedient or  offensive  to  Lady  Soorowits. 

The  deputy  sheriff's  plans  carried  famously.  No  sooner  did 
the  long-nailed  female  fingers  grip  a  Winchester  than  someone 
wrested  it  violently  from  them ;  and  the  sullen  form  of  Soorowits 
went  to  earth  rather  ungracefully  under  three  husky  boys  who 
forced  his  wrists  together  and  clicked  the  handcuffs. 

The  snake-eyed  lady  fairly  foamed  at  the  mouth,  and  boiled 
over  with  poison.  She  cursed  in  Pahute  and  Navajo,  she  cursed 
in  Mexican  and  English ;  she  writhed  and  twisted  and  kicked,  and 
finally  succeeded  in  settling  three  of  her  infected  claws  in  the 
back  of  a  young  fellow's  hand.  Her  two  children  ran  howling 
away  like  the  terrified  whelps  of  a  fighting  tigress. 

Tf  there  is  such  a  thing  as  a  female  satan,  she  must  have 
found  satisfactory  expression  in  the  Pahute  gorgon  who  went 
•perforce  with  the  deputy  sheriff's  posse  and  Soorowits  to  town. 

Buhhre  followed  smilingly  after  them,  carrying  a  Colt's  .45 
and  a  rifle  of  big  bore.  He  was  accompanied  by  four  other  bucks, 
all  of  them  as  well  armed  but  for  the  smiles. 

On  the  frontier  it  often  happens  that  no  one  knows  how  to 
give  the  machinery  of  law  a  proper  or  sufficient  start,  to  make  it 
grind  the  varied  offenses  which  turn  ripe  for  grinding.  The 
lack  of  this  very  knowledge  made  Soorowits  wait  two  days  for  a 
preliminary  hearing,  during  all  of  which  time  he  fretted  under  a 
close  guard  in  town ;  but  his  morbific  consort,  being  released, 
spent  the  time  plotting  in  the  hills  and  among  the  willows,  with 
his  anarchistic  followers. 

At  length  the  prosecuting  attorney  sent  word  that  he  could 
not  be  present,  but  that  the  county  would  pay  Ben  to  prosecute 
the  case  in  the  justice's  court.  This  suggested  to  young  Rojer  a 
brilliant  idea :  Trouble  with  Soorowits  had  been  foreshadowed 
that  it  might  be  avoided ;  it  could  be  avoided  by  prosecuting  the 
old  Pahute  to  the  full  extent  of  the  law,  and  placing  him  safely 
under  lock  and  key. 

Ben  Rojer  had  never  followed  a  track  nor  a  clue  with  more 
scowl-faced  determination  than  that  with  which  he  dug  into  the 
laws  of  Utah,  in  the  few  hours  yet  remaining  before  the  opening 
of  court.  He  arranged  his  evidence  with  all  possible  care,  and 
nnveled  himself  up  to  the  task  like  a  teamster  flogs  his  lazy  horse 
a  half-mile  before  the  steep  hill  comes  in  sight. 

The  justice  held  court  in  a  schoolhouse.  The  place  was 
jammed  full.  Many  black  eyes  looked  curiously  out  of  dusky 
faces— Pahute  and  Navajo  faces.  Also  the  men  and  boys  of  the 
town  turned  out  en  masse.  In  the  center  of  a  bench,  counsel  mi 
one  side  and  guard  on  the  other,  sat  Soorowits,  looking  daggers 
and  hatchets  at  the  whole  proceeding.     Buhhre  stood  bv  the  wall. 


VOICE  OF  THE  INTANGIBLE  135 

heavily  armed,  and  exactly  the  thing-  Shakespeare  would  call  a 
"smiling  damned  villain."  The  snake-eyed  snorter  slid  in  along 
the  bench,  as  near  to  her  devoted  husband  as  she  dared  to  go, 
and  took  a  frowning  scrutiny  of  every  white  man  present,  all  the 
time  digging  and  scratching  absent-mindedly  in  her  snaky  hair. 
If  an  old  swill-barrel  ever  looked  more  sour  or  a  slimy  salamander 
more  repulsive,  young  Rojer  had  failed  to  appreciate  it. 

During  the  taking  of  evidence,  Soorowits'  vengeful  look  fol- 
lowed Ben  through  every  move.  And  then,  in  the  summary  of  it 
all,  when  the  cowboy  lawyer  talked  with  all  the  fervor  which  the 
love  of  peace  and  safety  inspires,  those  three  pairs  of  black  eyes 
passed  awful  judgment  upon  him.  He  felt  them  fairly  growl  their 
hatred  from  under  their  brows,  though  one  of  them  still  smiled. 

When  the  justice  stood  up  in  front  of  that  blackboard,  and 
spreading  his  written  decision  out  on  a  school  desk  before  him, 
bound  the  case  over  to  appear  in  the  district  court,  Ben  heaved  a 
great  sigh  of  relief.  He  felt  fully  paid  for  his  trouble,  even  if  the 
county  had  forever  forgotten  the  half-bushel  of  oats  which,  for 
this  service,  it  bestowed  upon  him  three  months  later. 

The  deputy  sheriff's  intentions  were  no  doubt  good,  but  he 
slouched  through  business  with  the  ease  and  grace  of  an  old 
shoe  turned  over  at  the  heel.  Instead  of  hustling  his  dusky  pris- 
oner to  a  cage,  he  left  him  in  care  of  first  one  and  then  another, 
till  at  length  he  became  the  charge  of  a  man  who  wore  slippers. 
a  linen  collar  and  a  gold  ring. 

He  of  the  collar  and  the  ring  had  a  pistol  of  small  calibre, 
and  when  he  became  the  brave  custodian  of  the  Pahute  offender, 
he  put  his  popgun  in  his  upper  vest  pocket.  Soorowits  silently 
took  stock  of  the  pretty  toy,  and  apprised  his  plotting  household. 

It  was  easy  to  wheedle  those  slippered  feet  into  a  race — easy 
to  insist  that  the  inaction  of  being  closely  guarded  had  become 
tiresome  in  the  extreme,  and  when  that  race  came  off,  after  ten 
seconds  of  discussion,  the  man  of  the  hills  found  no  trouble  in 
leaving  his  gold-ringed  competitor  far  behind  in  the  road. 

Even  at  this  ridiculous  stage  of  the  performance  the  man 
with  the  collar  suspicioned  nothing  till  a  black-haired  horseman 
darted  out  of  the  willows,  and  bore  the  prisoner  away  behind  him. 
Then  the  gold-wearing  guard  became  stern  and  bold,  and  fired 
three  shots  in  the  direction  of  the  doubly-loaded  cayuse.  In  spite 
of  those  shots  the  cayuse  disappeared  in  the  edge  of  the  willows, 
from  which  arose  a  muffled  shout  of  exultation. 

The  three  armed  horsemen  who  followed  in  hot  pursuit  as 
soon  as  the  alarm  was  given,  came  back  without  one  glimpse  of 
the  fleeing  outlaw.  Two  days  later  a  Pahute  brought  word  that 
one  of  the  shots  had  taken  effect — that  Soorowits  lay  in  a  critical 
condition  at  a  certain  place  in  the  rocks,  but  no  one  believed  it. 
Even  if  the  pea-shooter  had   really  bounced  one  of  its  pellets 


136  [MPROVEMENT    ERA 

against  the  escaping  horse-thief,  he  was  too  busy  to  notice  it,  and 
had  no  way  of  finding  it  out  afterwards 

No  one  took  this  slovenly  piece  of  business  so  much  to  heart 
as  did  Ben  Rojer.  Some  folks  even  insisted  that  the  escape  was 
exactly  right — that  by  it  they  would  be  shut  of  further  trouble  ; 
and  further  trouble  would  be  unnecessary,  since  Soorowits  had 
seen  enough  severity  to  frighten  him  into  a  more  righteous  life. 

To  Ben,  however,  it  was  exactly  wrong,  an  unjustifiable 
blunder.  It  had  the  appearance  of  a  dreaded  shape  in  the  distance 
— a  shape  which  would  no  doubt  come  to  him  with  blood-thirsty 
vengeance. 

He  supplied  himself  with  a  saddle-gun  and  a  good  revolver, 
but  somehow  they  failed  to  hang  right,  and  gave  more  trouble 
than  comfort  from  the  very  first.  He  couldn't  adjust  the  rifle 
satisfactorily  under  his  knee,  and  the  belt  with  its  weighted  scab- 
bard dangled  always  in  the  way  like  a  first-class  nuisance.  Be- 
sides that,  they  were,  in  some  strange  way,  a  contradiction  to  the 
Ben  Rojer  of  Pagahrit  Cave.  Still,  he  clung  to  them  as  a  neces- 
sary evil,  and  hoped  and  feared  for  the  meeting  with  the  distant 
shape ! 

(to  be  continued) 


Plates  of  the  Tuckabatches. — The  Era  has  been  handed  a  clipping, 
from  the  Talilcquah  Democrat,  by  Mr.  Lorenzo  D.  Creel,  special  agent 
for  scattered  bands  of  Indians  in  Utah.  The  clipping  reads  as  follows: 
"When  the  Creek  or  Muskogee  Indians  adopted  into  their  tribe  the 
remnants  of  other  tribes  which  were  nearly  extinct,  many  superstitions 
were  found  among  them.  One  of  these  tribes  was  the  Tuckabatches. 
The  legends  of  the  Creeks  state  that  the  Tuckabatches  brought  with 
them  seven  plates,  the  origin  and  object  of  which  have  puzzled  scien- 
tific men  for  centuries.  The  Tuckabatches  claim  that  these  plates 
were  given  them  by  their  ancestors.  They  were  not  to  be  handled  by 
all  persons — only  by  particular  men,  and  those  chosen  by  the  chief  or 
Micco  of  the  tribe.  Five  of  the  plates  were  of  copper  and  two  of  brass. 
The  copper  plates  were  about  18  inches  long  and  seven  inches  wide; 
the  brass  ones  being  round  and  18  inches  in  diameter,  having  two  char- 
acters on  them  similar  to  the  letters  A  and  E  connected.  The  plate> 
were  kept  buried  under  the  house  of  the  chief  and  are  believed  to  be 
still  in  existence.  The  superstitions  of  the  Tuckabatches  became  a  fixed 
ceremony  of  a  large  part  of  the  Creek  tribe.  Many  of  the  Creeks,  who 
are  descendants  of  those  who  were  never  reconciled  to  the  admission 
of  the  Tuckabatches,  always  had  a  superstitious  dread  of  the  brass 
plates,  and  this  dread  took  the  form  of  a  belief  that  contact  with  them 
meant  death  or  disaster — and  that  aboriginal  belief  has  not  wholly  de- 
parted." 


Zion  Cannot  be  Defiled 


BY  DR.   GEORGE   II.    BRIMHALL,    PRESIDENT   OF   THE   BRIGHAM    YOUNG 
UNIVERSITY,    PROVO 


I  am  full  of  gratitude  for  the  blessings  that  have  come  to  me 
from  my  fathers  and  my  mothers,  both  in  heaven  and  on  earth. 
I  feel  as  I  nearly  always  feel  in  the  presence  of  an  assembly  of 
my  brethren  and  sisters,  that  I  need. their  faith  and  prayers;  and 
if  I  get  these  I  shall  not  have  any  occasion  to  ask  for  your  atten- 
tion. You  have  not  come  up  here  to  hear  me.  You  have  come 
up  here  to  hear  the  word  of  the  Lord,  and  if  I  have  been  called 
by  his  authority  to  be  the  instrument,  feeble  and  unworthy  as  I 
am,  why,  the  Lord  will  be  praised  for  anything  that  I  may  say, 
and  it  will  depend  upon  him  and  you. 

In  the  remarks  made  at  the  opening  of  this  conference,  by 
President  Joseph  F.  Smith,  I  was  led  to  reflect,  and  I  felt  very 
keenly,  that  he  was  actuated  by  a  spirit  of  boldness  and  courage 
that  came  from  his  calling,  reinforced  by  our  Father.  He  did 
not  ask  what  the  people  wanted  to  hear.  He  did  not  ask  what 
would  increase  his  good  favor  among  this  people.  He  evidently 
had  but  one  thought,  and  it  was  akin  to  that  which  inspired  the 
Prophet  Brigham  when  the  question  came  up  as  to  who  was  to 
lead  the  Church,  and  he  remarked :  "I  do  not  care  who  leads  this 
Church,  even  if  it  is  Ann  Lee ;  but  what  I  want  to  know  is  what 
the  Lord  has  to  say  about  this."  And  our  President  has  but  one 
consideration.  What  is  the  will  of  the  Lord  concerning  this  people  ? 
And  he  has  given  us  the  will  of  the  Lord.  There  is  a  passage  of 
scripture  in  one  of  the  revelations,  wherein  the  Lord  said  that, 
"If  ye  suffer  evil  to  come  into  this  house,  (speaking  of  the  Tem- 
ple) I  will  reject  it."  Now  some  evil  person  might  have  come 
into  that  house,  some  apostate,  some  enemy.  Our  great  Temple 
here  has  been  invaded  by  evil  persons  getting  in  there  and  getting 
pictures,  thieves  as  they  were ;  but  it  was  not  suffered.  You  did 
not  consent  to  it ;  I  did  not  consent  to  it ;  the  authorities  did  not 
consent  to  it.  Hence,  it  could  not  be  said  that  we  suffered  these 
things. 

President  Smith  could  not  suffer  anything  in  Zion  of  a  nature 


*A  fifteen-minute  inspiring  talk  at  one  of  the  overflow  meetings  in 
the  Assembly  Hall,  at  the  late  October  conference. 


138  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

that  would  pollute  her.  We  sang  here  today,  "Let  the  mountains 
shout  for  joy;"  and  when  that  hymn  was  being  sung-  I  thought  of 
a  circumstance  of  but  a  little  over  a  year  ago,  when  sixty-five 
eminent  scientists  from  all  over  the  world  passed  through  our 
country.  T  had  the  privilege  of  riding  in  a  car  with  one  of  them 
across  Provo  bench.  T  had  a  returned  missionary  by  my  side,  one 
of  my  sons;  and  we  had  a  German,  an  Italian,  and  a  Russian  in 
the  car.  And  the  German  asked  the  boy  where  he  got  his  German. 
He  was  told  he  got  it  in  a  "Mormon"  school  and  on  a  mission  in 
Germany.     He  said,  "I  thought  you  were  a  German-born." 

Then  he  looked  all  around,  and  I  undertook  to  explain  to  him 
something  about  the  nature  of  our  people. 

"Oh  !"  he  said,  "don't  talk.  Professor,  .the  mountains  shout 
for  your  people.  Sec  the  canal  there,  that  they  have  made;  the 
ground  echoes  the  thoughts  and  character  of  your  people.  See 
the  orchards,  see  the  harvests,  the  fields ;  look  at  your  buildings 
that  cry  out  what  you  are.  These  are  the  echoes  of  the  character 
of  your  people.  It  all  speaks  for  you,  and  it  gives  the  lie  to  all 
that  has  been  said  about  you  as  a  bad  people." 

I  thought  in  my  soul,  verily  the  prophecy  is  being  fulfiled 
which  said  that  the  mountains  should  melt  away.  I  believe  in  the 
literal  melting  away  of  the  mountains  of  ice  at  the  coming  of  the 
Ten  Tribes  from  the  North ;  but  I  believe  also  it  may  have  a 
figurative  meaning — mountains  of  prejudice  melting  away  before 
this  people !  I  believe  what  the  young  missionary  said  when  the 
minister  said  to  him,  "Why,  you  have  Moses  and  the  Prophets ; 
why  not  listen  to  them?"  He  turned  and  said  to  him,  "I  would 
have  you  understand  that  Wilford  Woodruff,  in  his  place,  is  as 
great  a  prophet  as  Moses  ever  dared  to  be."  I  believe  that  about 
President  Woodruff.  I  believed  that  when  I  heard  him  say, 
during  the  time  we  were  dedicating  the  great  Salt  Lake  Temple, 
that  "from  this  time  on  this  people  will  begin  to  prevail  among 
the  nations  of  the  earth." 

We,  through  the  action  of  our  fathers  and  our  mothers,  had 
prevailed  against  the  desert.  We  had  prevailed  against  persecu- 
tion. We  had  prevailed  against  the  insidious  inroads  of  vice,  and 
we  had  produced  a  community  of  which  God  could  say,  through 
his  Prophet,  when  our  glorious  Temple  was  finished,  "they  shall 
now  prevail  against  the  prejudices  of  the  world." 

Have  we  done  it?  You  think  where  we  stood  politically. 
You  think  where  we  stood  financially.  You  think  where  we  stood 
educationally,  at  the  time  that  prophecy  was  made ;  and  then  think 
of  where  we  are  now ! 

Why,  through  our  proselyting  we  are  now  confronted  with 
ministers  congregating  and  crying  out,  "We  are  powerless.  Some 
laws  must  be  enacted  against  these  'Mormon'  elders."     Is  that 


ZION   CANNOT   BE   DEFILED  139 

prevailing?  What  am  I  bold  to  bear  testimony  about  today? 
The  Latter-day  Saints  have  been  branded  as  an  ignorant  people. 
What  is  the  condition  today?  You  ask  the  college  presidents  of 
this  and  other  nations.  Who  would  have  said,  who  would  have 
dared  to  say,  ten  years  ago,  that  one  of  the  greatest  institutions  in 
the  United  States  has  sent  to  the  Brigham  Young  University  and 
petitioned  one  of  its  "Mormon"  boy  professors,  upon  whom  they 
had  conferred  a.  doctor's  degree,  to  come  back  to  Chicago  and 
occupy  a  professor's  chair,  and  have  his  assistant  there? 

And  when  our  boys  go  out,  they  observe  something  that 
makes  us  think.  One  returned  a  few  weeks  ago.  He  said,  "We 
are  the  watchword ;  we  are  on  the  map  educationally."  It  was 
said  of  him :  "You  are  from  the  Brigham  Young?"  "Yes."  Of 
another  it  was  said,  "You  are  from  the  B.  Y.  C?"  and  so  on,  and, 
"We  know  something  about  that."  Brethren  and  sisters,  we  are 
prevailing. 

Why  are  we  prevailing,  in  Zion  ?  We  are  prevailing  because 
we  have  refused  to  let  Zion  be  defiled.  That  is  why  we  are  pre- 
vailing. Zion  cannot  be  defiled,  because  the  Prophet  of  God  will 
never  consent,  and  there  never  will  be,  there  never  has  been,  and 
there  never  will  be,  an  official  assent  to  the  inroad  of  any  iniquity 
among  this  people :  and  as  long  as  there  is  always  an  official 
phalanx  standing  up  and  refusing  official  sanction  to  the  admit- 
tance of  any  evil  in  this  Church,  then  Zion,  the  organization  that 
God  has  established,  cannot  be  defiled.  "Individuals  may  be  de- 
filed," as  Brother  Maeser  used  to  say,  but  yet  the  Lord  has  said 
that  this  kingdom  shall  never  fall ;  but  he  has  never  said  that  I 
shall  never  fall. 

There  is  Zion,  the  pure  in  heart.  That  is  an  element.  There 
is  Zion,  this  continent.  There  is  Zion,  the  organization  of  the 
Church  of  God.  Zion  is  glorious.  Zion  is  the  bride  of  Christ. 
Zion  is  that  which  we  should  defend.  She  is  a  ship  of  eternal 
state,  and  I  am  so  glad,  so  happy,  to  be  a  part  of  that  great  thing 
called  Zion.  I  never  was  made  happier  in  my  life  than  when  I 
saw  an  action  taken  by  a  student  body,  and  it  was  manifest  the 
next  morning  on  their  countenances,  that  "The  use  of  tobacco  on 
this  campus  is  forbidden  by  order  of  the  Board  of  Control." 
What  does  that  mean?  That  is  a  part  of  Zion,  refusing  to  be 
defiled,  and  our  President  yesterday  made  the  correct  stand,  to 
refuse  to  let  Zion  be  defiled. 

What  is  mv  mission?  To  go  to  my  place,  back  to  the  Brig- 
ham Young  University,  and  sav  to  our  force  of  teachers,  we  shall 
refuse  anvthing  to  come  into  this  school  that  would  defile  Zion. 
What  is  mv  honest  dutv  next?  To  go  to  my  own  home,  and  do 
the  same  thing.  To  the  bishops  and  the  presidents  of  stakes  I 
have  nothing  to  say.     They  know  they  are  the  most  responsible 


I4() 


MI'KDVI'MENT    ERA 


men  in  the  Church  under  the  general  authorities.  I  know  what 
is  to  be  done.  I  know  that  if  nothing  had  been  done  in  this  con- 
ference but  to  listen  to  the  word  of  the  Lord  yesterday,  Israel 
would  be  well  repaid.     God  bless, you.      Amen. 


KONTCSBFKO  CHOrR,  GERMANY 

The  above  portrait  represents  the  Konigsberg  Choir,  Germany. 
Much  progress  is  being  made  in  that  branch.  The  Sunday  school  over 
which  Elder  McLoyd  Lauritzen  is  superintendent  is  especially  pros- 
perous. The  people  are  anxious  for  the  truth,  but  sectarian  jealousy 
has  caused  considerable  trouble  with  the  police. 


An  elders  convention  was  held  at  Deseret,  No.  152  High  Road, 
South  Tottenham,  London  N.,  England,  September  9  and  10,  1913. 
There  were  present  Presidents  E.  Taft  Benson  of  the  European  Mis- 
sion, Hyrum  W.  Valentine  of  the  Swiss-German  Mission,  Edgar  B. 
Brossard  of  the  French  Mission,  Thomas  C.  Hair  of  the  Netherlands 
Mission,  Theodore  Tobiason,  enroute  for  Sweden  to  take  up  his  duties 
as  president  of  that  mission;  Fred  R.  Woolley,  emigration  clerk  for  the 
European  Mission,  Orville  W.  Adams,  secretary  of  the  European  Mis- 
sion, four  lady  missionaries  and  approximately  two  hundred  fifty  trav- 
eling elders  of  the  British  Mission.  A  profitable  two  days'  session 
was  held  in  which  important  instructions  were  given  to  the  assembled 
elders. 


To  Him  who  Strives 


BY   JOSEPHINE   SPENCER 


"Going-  to   Stanford  next  year,  Jack?" 

"Stanford?  Gee — no!  I'm  going  to  hunt  a  job.  It's  been 
hard  enough  working  my  way  so  far ;  I  can't  afford  anything 
as  gilt-edged  as  a  college  course." 

Afton  Gray's  dark  eyes  filled  suddenly  with  tears.  "I  for- 
got, Jack,"  she  said,  simply.  But  the  apology  did  not  ease  her 
conscience.  Think  of  her  forgetting  the  trouble  that  had  left  her 
school  comrade  without  home,  or  home-ties — and  within  a  year's 
time !  She  had  heard  the  story  often — the  death  of  both  parents, 
and  loss  of  every  shred  of  the  big  estate  that  had  once  been 
theirs — and  Jack's  plucky  effort  to  meet  his  reverses  and  make 
good  with  the  world. 

"I  hope  the  job  will  be  a  good  one,  Jack,"  she  said,  "and 
not  too  far  off.  We  have  had  some  great  times  together,  now 
I  think  of  it — all  through  the  school  grades." 

Jack's  face,  grown  dark  with  memory  of  his  problems,  sud- 
denly lightened. 

"Your  face  was  the  first  I  noticed  among  the  kids  in  my 
first  grade,  and  we've  managed  not  to  let  one  another  get  ahead 
since,"  he  said. 

They  laughed,  and  then  Jack  said  soberly,  "I  can't  tell  where 
the  big  life-grind  will  be.  I've  been  trying  all  year  to  find  some- 
thing so  I  could  have  my  start  ready  when  school  ended,  but 
it's  thin  pickings,  just  now.  I  can  get  back  into  the  little  town 
grocery — you  know  I  worked  there  last  vacation,  but  there  is 
nothing  in  it  for  a  real  start ;  just  salary  enough  to  keep  one  fed 
and  clothed,  according  to  law — and  no  mind-work  whatever.  I've 
tried  for  a  teacher — but  everything's  tied  up.  That's  the  case  in 
the  city — a  hundred  applications  for  every  clerkship.  I  confess 
neither  of  those  livelihoods  appeal  to  me  thrillingly ;  I've  always 
had  a  nipping  want  to  be  outdoors.  It's  going  to  be  the  open 
for  me— if  I  can  get  it,  and  keep  it." 

"Have  you  thought  of  anything  definite?" 

"Yes ;  but  definite  thinking,  and  definite  choosing,  are  dif- 
ferent things,  unless  you  have  money  X)r  a  pull  to  back  your  best 
wish.  I'd  like  orange-farming,  but  the  summer  I  tried  out  for 
that  as  just  a  laborer,  left  me  few  illusions  as  to  getting  ahead 
of  the  bare  living.     The  owner  has  a  big  chance  and  has  it  all. 


142  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

You  may  not  believe  it— but  I've  tried  one  or  two  things  in  the 
way  of  a  living  since — 

Alton's  hand  went  out  impulsively.  "I  know — Jack — I've 
heard  about  it — and  it's  splendid!" 

Jack  flushed.  "I  don't  think  T  have  any  calcium  halo  com- 
ing to  me  for  what  I've  done."  he  laughed.  "A  fellow  has  to 
face  his  problems,  that's  all." 

•'I  have  a  strong  idea  you  will  fight  all  yours  out  of  ex- 
istence."  smiled   Afton. 

"'Fight'  is  going  to  be  an  apt  word,  perhaps,"  said  Jack, 
smiling  too;  "that  is,  if  I  carry  out  what  I'm  considering  now." 

"Is  it  a  secret?" 

"Not  at  all.  I've  a  friend,  an  old  home-mate  of  mine,  who 
has  been  following  the  sea.  He  chose  it  in  preference  to  the 
college  chance  his  father  offered  him — and  says  it  beats  anything 
on  earth.  He's  on  one  of  Uncle  Sam's  warships  now — and  prom- 
ises to  get  me  a  place  there,  too,  if  I  want  it." 

"Rut—" 

"Oh,  there  will  be  difficulties,  of  course,  but  his  father  has 
a  pull,  you  see :  that's  how  Ned  came  to  get  in  without  any  spe- 
cial trouble." 

"But  the  sea — that  means — " 

"It  means  experience,  discipline,  travel,  education  in  a 
hundred  ways  that  I  could  never  get  behind  a  counter  or  on 
a  farm.  It  means  outdoor  action,  of  some  sort,  always — and 
then.  too.  though,  of  course,  always  remotely,  the  chance  of  fight- 
ing for  your  country." 

"It  sounds  splendid,"  said  Afton,  hesitatingly,  "but  then  it 
means,  too,  that  you  have  no  country  in  a  way — no  home.  Your 
country  is  the  ocean,  your  home  a  ship's  deck." 

"There  isn't  so  much  for  me  on  land  in  either  of  those  things 
to  make  it  much  different,"  said  Jack. 

Afton  blushed.  Would  she  never  stop  blundering  into  that 
subject? 

"You've  got  friends.  Jack,  anyway,"  she  made  haste  to  say. 
"Don't  forget,  wherever  you  may  be,  that  we've  always  been 
good  comrades,  and  that  I  and  mother  and  the  folks  will  always 
be  glad  to  see  you.  That's  what  I  looked  you  up  for  now.  We 
want  you  to  come  and  spend  what  time  you  can  at  the  Beach. 
There's  a  half  dozen  of  the  school  bunch  coming  down  next  week. 
The  boys  are  going  to  take  tents,  and  a  few  of  us  who  have  homes 
there  are  going  to  house  the  girls.  You  must  come  for  a  final 
swim  before  you  go  away." 

Jack  held  out  his  hand.  "Wouldn't  miss  it  for  a  prizefight, 
Comrade.  Besides,  it's  just  the  place  to  think  over  Ned's  offer. 
1  get  all  sorts  of  good  tips  from  the  ocean,  and  I  seem  to  see  all 
my  big  problems  clearer  when  I'm  living  out  doors." 


TO  HIM  WHO  STRIVES  143 

Jack  went  with  Afton  down  to  the  big  Pacific  Electric  sta- 
tion, and  waited  until  the  beach  train  glided  into  the  runway, 
then  took  her  through  the  gate  and  put  her  into  her  seat.  They 
shook  hands  in  true  comrade  style,  and  parted  with  a  renewal 
of  Jack's  promise  for  next  week.  There  was  no  sentiment  be- 
tween them  of  a  truly  tender  sort — they  were  too  young,  and  the 
sense  of  mere  school  comradeship  too  strong.  Afton's  fine,  frank 
character  made  her  popular  with  both  her  feminine  and  masculine 
friends,  and  there  had  been  no  one  among  the  latter  who  had 
been  singled  out,  even  unconsciously  in  her  mind.  Jack  was  a  fine 
fellow,  and  she  liked  him  immensely — that  was  all.  Jack's  owr 
mental  attitude  on  the  question  was  nearly  the  same,  with  per- 
haps a  little  keener  sense  of  appreciation  for  her  genuine  friend- 
ship, which  to  a  young  person  without  kindred,  must  necessarily 
stand  for  much. 

The  next  week  found  the  party  of  school  friends  at  the  Beach, 
enjoying  everything  that  came  to  them  in  the  way  of  pleasure. 
The  chief  thing,  of  course,  was  the  sea  surf,  where  they  spent  as 
many  hours  as  possible  each  day — and  besides  this,  of  course, 
were  the  excursions  by  land  and  water,  the  boat  rides  to  the  vari- 
our  near  points  in  the  pleasure  steamers,  and  numberless  rowing 
parties,  especially  by  moonlight,  when  the  party  formed  a  fleet 
of  four  or  five  of  the  big  boats,  and  spent  the  early  evening,  when 
the  tide  was  low,  in  fine  rides  up  and  down  the  big  harbor  formed 
by  the  breakwater. 

Passengers  on  the  bigger  boats  listened  many  an  evening  to 
the  clear,  young  voices  ringing  out  across  the  water  in  school 
glees,  and  the  catchy,  popular  songs  which  their  good  lungs 
sent  far  out  into  the  distance. 

More  interesting  to  Jack  than  anything  else  were  the  fre- 
quent flights  of  the  birdmen,  who  often  passed  and  repassed  on 
their  way  to  and  from  their  meets  at  Monterey  and  San  Diego. 
Jack's  love  for  the  open  was  almost  a  passion,  and  the  air  flights 
seemed  to  him  the  apex  of  all  that  was  alluring  and  fine  and 
free.  One  early  morning  in  his  tent  at  the  sea,  he  was  aroused 
by  a  great  whirring  above,  and  rushing  out  with  the  others  saw  an 
aeroplane  gracefully  sweeping  across  the  near  bay,  not  a  hun- 
dred yards  away.  Jack  envied  with  his  whole  heart  the  man  in 
the  little  craft ;  a  great  yearning  surged  in  him  to  feel  the  rush  of 
the  cool  air  around  him  high  above  the  earth,  and  see  th^  blue 
sea  stretching  under  him  like  a  field  of  turquoise.  The  aviator 
was  billed  for  a  local  display  that  afternoon,  and  Jack  and  the 
others  of  the  party  were  among  the  great  throng  gathered  at  the 
beach  to  see  the  near  ascent.  The  aeroplane  was  stationed  at  the 
extreme  edge  of  the  sand,  a  hundred  yards  from  the  pier,  and  Jack, 
slipping  away  from  the  others,  managed  to  get  close  to  the  air- 
man as  he  made  ready  for  his  flight.     To  his  surprise  he  recog- 


144  [MPR0VEMEN1     ERA 

nized  Hanly  Brown,  who  had  spent  two  years  as  an  employe  on 
his  father's  orange  grove  before  the  crash  came  that  had  taken 
everything  from  them.  Jack's  breath  came  fast.  He  edged  nearer. 
"]  lu'llo,  Han !"  he  said,  in  the  manner  of  old  times. 

Hanly  turned,  and  came  forward  with  outstretched  hands. 

".If  it  isn't  Bub  Everly!  Where  have  you  been,  youngster? 
I've  thought  of  you  a  lot— and  tried  to  locate  you  several^  times." 

"You  can  make  me  believe  that  was  hard  work,"  said  Jack. 
"I've  been  so  many  different  places  since  I  saw  you,  I've  had  to 
hire  a  detective  to  keep  track  of  myself." 

"Been  good  to  yourself,  I  hope?"  asked  Hanly  with  genuine 
interest. 

"Good  is  a  tame  word,"  laughed  Jack. 

"I've  been  wishing  you'd  let  me  hear  from  you — and  do 
something  for  you— if  you  need  it,"  said  Hanly.  "It's  going  to 
take  a  lifetime  to  make  me  forget  the  way  I  was  treated  at  your 
place." 

"You're  not  in  my  debt,"  smiled  Jack.  "But  there's  some- 
thing you  can  do  for  me  that  will  put  me  deep  in  yours.  It's  right 
now,  today,"  he  went  on,  as  Hanly  looked  at  him  inquiringly.  "I 
want  to  go  up  in  the  machine  with  you — I'm  wild  for  it — and  it's 
my  one  possible  chance." 

Hanly's  face  fell.  "I  thought  there  was  nothing  I  could  re- 
fuse you,"  he  said.  "But  I  don't  need  to  tell  you  the  risks,  and 
that  I  wouldn't  care  to  repay  my  debt  of  gratitude  by  chancing 
your  life  in  a  flight.    We're  never  sure,  you  know,"  he  said. 

"Neither  are  we  earth-birds,"  laughed  Jack.  "Bad  things 
happen  below  as  well  as  above — and  I'll  never  rest  until  I  try  air- 
travel.    It  will  be  with  you,  or  the  next  fellow  that  will  take  me." 

Hanly  recognized  the  certain  note  in  Jack's  voice. 

"I  wish  you'd  let  me  off,"  he  said,  with  a  last  effort  against 
Jack's  risk. 

"I'd  rather  go  with  you  than  anyone  else,''  said  Jack,  eagerly. 

Hanly  pointed  to  the  machine.  "Hop  in,"  he  said,  "I'm  ready 
to  start." 

As  the  two  climbed  into  the  aeroplane,  a  big  murmur  of  ex- 
citement sounded  from  the  throng — which  surged  for  a  closer 
view  of  the  daring  young  passenger.  As  the  craft  skimmed  up- 
ward, Jack  caught  a  glimpse  of  Afton  Gray's  pale  face  upturned 
in  vain  demur — then  everything  below  was  forgotten.  Jack's 
sense,  at  first,  was  not  of  rising,  but  that  things  were  tumbling 
away  from  him,  pell-mell.  Then  came  the  splendid  sense  of  soar- 
ing— of  getting  away  from  all  known  things — planet  and  all.  It 
flashed  upon  Jack  with  wonderful  sensation  that  for  the  first  time 
he  was  detached  from  the  big  globe  which  men  call  earth — from 
the  shackles  of  that  great  law  which  keeps  mankind  chained  to  its 
surface- — while   it   rolls   them   through   unimaginable   space.      He 


TO  HIM  WHO  STRIVES  145 

was  in  that  deep  blue  atmosphere  which  had  hung  alluringly 
above  him  all  his  life,  breathing  its  pure  essence,  free  from  murk 
or  choking  earth-scents — the  air  rushing  gloriously  past  him  with 
free,  unhindered  sweep. 

He  would  have  shouted  in  his  exhilaration — but  just  then  the 
machine  took  a  sudden  dip.  He  saw  Hanly  lean  forward  quickly, 
his  face  pale  and  anxious.  The  craft  righted  from  its  perilous 
position  but  still  settled  downward.  Hanly  did  not  speak,  and 
Jack,  breathless,  watched  his  efforts  to  bring  the  machine  back  to 
its  horizontal  course.  It  had  fallen  rapidly,  and  Jack  could  hear 
the  frightened  cries  from  the  crowd  below,  sounding  like  a 
mighty,  solemn  chord.  Then,  suddenly  the  quick  fall  slackened, 
the  machine  became  for  a  moment  almost  motionless,  then  shot 
straight  ahead.  Jack  heaved  a  sigh  of  relief — but  his  trouble  was 
not  over.  Hanly  was  managing  the  machine  adroitly,  but  their 
flight  had  taken  them  far  from  shore,  and  though  they  were  now 
descending  more  gradually,  it  was  certain  the  aeroplane  would 
alight  far  from  land.  The  only  boats  visible  were  those  about 
the  long  pier,  and  Hanly  guided  towards  these,  hoping  that  his 
flight  might  come  within  distance  of  possible  help.  Now  and  then, 
in  their  rapid  course,  Jack  felt  the  sudden  drop  of  the  craft,  tell- 
ing that  something  was  wrong,  and  that  only  good  luck  and 
Hanly's  clever  driving  had  kept  them,  so  far,  from  death.  Nearer 
and  nearer  they  sped.  Jack  could  distinguish  the  gasoline  launches 
from  the  big  blur  around  the  long  pier.  These  were  moving — two 
or  three  of  them — their  course  guided  evidently  by  that  of  the 
aeroplane.  Suddenly,  Jack  held  his  breath.  There  was  a  great 
jerk,  then  a  sheer  fall  downward,  and  in  an  instant  they  were  in 
the  water.  Following  Hanly's  quick  command,  Jack  jumped  clear 
of  the  craft,  and  after  a  deep  plunge,  came  up  gasping,  to  see 
Hanly  striving  vainly  to  extricate  himself  from  the  machine. 
Nearly  submerged,  lurching  with  the  big  sea  roll,  and  driving  here 
and  there  by  the  waning  force  of  its  own  propeller,  it  seemed  a 
veritable  floating  trap,  from  which  Hanly,  his  head  only  now  and 
then  visible,  seemed  helpless  to  extricate  himself. 

Jack  swam  to  him,  and  clutching  the  bobbing  plane,  tried  to 
get  Hanly  from  underneath.  Twice,  in  seeking  to  drag  the  avi- 
ator from  underneath,  Jack  went  clown,  and  only  his  skill  at  swim- 
ming kept  him  from  drowning.  When  he  came  up  the  second 
time,  he  could  see  nothing  of  his  companion.  A  great  fear  came 
to  him.  Waiting  only  for  breath,  he  dove  under  again,  and  this 
time  saw  Hanly  far  down,  floating  free  of  the  machine.  He  man- 
aged to  grasp  him,  and  get  to  the  surface,  but  his  work  seemed 
too  late.  Hanly  was  unconscious,  and  Jack,  trying  to  keep  him 
afloat,  realized  that  only  outside  aid  could  help  either  of  them  from 
their  peril. 

It  was  coming — in  the  shape  of  a  life-boat,  and  two  of  the 


Ill,  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

smaller  stealers,  which  were  pulling. quickly  toward  them.  Jack 
did  not  'lire  grasp  at  the  r611ing  air-craft  for  support,  and  his 
own  strength,  well-nigh  spent,  hardly  kept  Hanly's  head  above 
water. 

(  >ne  of  the  steamers  chugged  alongside  just  as  Jack's  grasp 
relaxed,  and  while  deft  hands  dragged  Hanly  on  board,  one  of 
the  life-guards  from  the  rowboat  which  reached  the  spot  almost 
at  the  same  time,  dove  into  the  green  depths  and  brought  Jack's 
exhausted  body  to  the  surface.  The  boy  revived  in  a  few  moments 
under  their  expert  aid — hut  poor  Ilanly,  when  they  reached  the 
shore,  was  still  unconscious.  An  ambulance  bore  him  rapidly  away 
to  the  hospital,  leaving  Jack  to  tell  the  story  of  the  flight  to  a 
horde  of  hungry  newspaper  men  and  others  who  swarmed  about 
him  on  the  beach.  In  a  few  moments  his  classmates  managed  to 
push  through  the  crowd,  and  rushed  their  comrade  off  to  his  tent 
for  dry  clothing.  He  had  no  sooner  donned  this  than  a  message 
came  from  Afton  Gray,  telling  him  that  her  mother  insisted  on 
his  coming  to  their  house  for  the  night.  Her  mother's  quick 
wit  had  guessed  the  all-night  session  which  awaited  him  from  cu- 
rious folk,  and  suggested  a  possible  way  of  saving  Jack  from  its 
infliction. 

Jack  gratefully  accepted  the  rescue — waiting  only  for  a  quick 
run  to  the  hospital  in  a  friend's  auto,  to  learn  of  Hanly's  condi- 
tion. To  his  relief,  the  report  was  favorable,  and  the  rest  of  Jack's 
evening  was  spent  in  comparative  comfort,  only  the  girls  and  boys 
of  the  school  "bunch"  being  admitted  to  Afton's  home. 

They  all  left  early,  with  the  exception  of  Jed  Davis,  who,  as 
Jack's  chum,  shared  in  the  invitation  to  spend  the  night.  In  the 
spare  room  placed  at  their  disposal  the  two  boys  passed  a  wakeful 
two  hours.  Jack,  restless  from  his  exciting  day,  and  Jed,  after  long, 
loyal,  self-repression,  morbidly  eager  to  hear,  to  the  last  detail, 
Jack's  thrilling  adventure. 

Both  slept  restfully  at  last,  however,  and  morning  found  Jack 
as  well  as  if  no  peril  had  threatened,  and  no  death  had  reached 
short  arms  for  him  so  little  a  time  before.  His  early  call  at  the 
hospital  found  the  bird-man  sitting  up  in  bed,  eager  to  see  his  dar- 
ing young  companion. 

''You  may  believe  me  or  turn  it  down,  as  you  like,"  said 
Hanly,  "but  if  you  hadn't  won  out  all  right  from  that  flight,  I'd 
never  have  put  up  another  one  again  as  long  as  I  live." 

"You  mean  to  say  you're  going  to  try  it  over?"  asked  Jack. 

"I'm  due  for  the  Monterey  meet  on  Monday,"  said  Hanly. 

Jack  looked  at  him  in  genuine  admiration.  "That  beats  fac- 
ing the  cannon's  mouth,"  he  said.  "I  thought  yesterday  would 
take  it  all  out  of  you." 

"I  hope  it  has  done  that  for  you,"  exclaimed  Hanly,  earn- 
estly. 


TO  HIM  WHO  STRIVES  147 

"I'm  not  sorry  I  have  had  the  experience,  now  it's  well  over ; 
but  I  shan't  want  to  try  it  again  in  a  lifetime — unless  science 
achieves  the  riskless  air-ship,"  smiled  Jack. 

"It's  good  to  hear  you  say  it,"  said  Hanly,  "and  it's  how  your 
father  would  feel,  too.  What' are  your  plans,  anyway,  youngster? 
Don't  want  to  pry,  you  understand — but  I  saw  a  great  deal  of 
your  growing  up,  and  I'd  like  to  know  how  you  pull  through." 

"I've  been  lucky  enough  to  get  a  chance  at  a  berth  oh  a  man- 
of-war." 

Hanly  laughed.  "I  might  have  known  it  would  be  something 
like  that,"  he  said.    "When  do  you  go  ?" 

"In  a  fortnight." 

"From  what  port?" 

"Right  here.  I  expected  to  sign  at  San  Francisco,  but  my 
ship  is  due  here  with  a  fleet  of  five  others  on  their  way  to  San 
Diego." 

"How  long  do  you  sign  for?" 

"For  two  years — as  a  try-out.     After  that — I  don't  know." 

"Let  me  know  when  you  come  back,  if  you  do — and  if  I 
am — "  He  stopped  expressively. 

"If  you  are  alive,"  said  Jack,  soberly,  "I'll  hunt  you  up." 

At  the  Grays'  invitation,  Jack  and  his  chum  spent  the  week- 
end at  the  house,  and  in  spite  of  Jack's  previous  enjoyment  of  his 
seaside  tent,  the  experience  brought  him  a  pleasure  which  he  had 
not  known  for  several  years.  It  was,  in  fact,  the  first  taste  of 
home  life  he  had  had  in  that  time,  and  roused  keen  memories  of 
the  cheery  home  so  suddenly  broken  up.  Down  under  all  his  real 
stoicism  lay  a  deep  tenderness  for  the  ties  which  every  true  man 
feels,  however  adventurous  his  spirit,  and  this  short  renewal  of 
past  joys  made  lasting  impression  in  Jack's  memory. 

Alton's  two  girl  guests  were  jolly  creatures  who  helped  to 
make  the  house-party  a  merry  one,  the  experience  being  alto- 
gether the  most  delightful  Jack  had  spent  in  years. 

The  next  week  was  a  momentous  one  for  him.  It  brought 
the  little  fleet  of  war  vessels  with  which  came  the  Lincoln,  for 
whose  service  he  was  to  sign.  Jack's  decision  had  come  to  him  in 
the  first  week  of  his  stay  at  the  Beach — the  ocean  luring  him,  as 
it  had  always  done ;  and  the  experience  promising  to  discount  all 
the  tamer  chances  which  awaited  his  choosing. 

The  fleet  arrived  at  night,  and  it  was  a  stirring  sight  to  Jack 
when  the  dark  shapes,  one  by  one,  rounded  the  big  breakwater, 
and  threw  their  searchlights  across  the  harbor.  The  mere  sight 
of  a  battleship  to  Jack  stood  for  thrilling  things,  and  now  the  long, 
white  rays  searching  the  dark  bay,  seemed  like  arms  held  out  to 
welcome  him.  At  dawn,  too,  when  they  lay — long,  low  shapes 
on  the  blue  sea  at  the  harbor's  outer  edge — the  ships  held  some- 
thing like  a  kindred  sense  which  sent  new  thrills  to  Jack's  heart. 


I4X  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

At  noon  his  own  ship,  the  Lincoln,  steamed  up  within  a  mile 
of  the  pier,  and  the  small  I  oats  and  launches  brought  the  officers 
and  men  swarming  ashore.  Ned  was  among  the  first  to  land,  and 
-rasped  Jack's  hand  with  a  bone-splitting  squeeze. 

"It's  great  to  think  you're  going  to  be  with  us,  old  fellow,"  he 
exclaimed. 

"It's  great  to  have  the  chance,"  said  Jack. 

Jack  was  not  to  sign  until  the  day  of  departure,  so  that  the 
gay  week  that  followed  was  free  from  restraint.  Jack  was  back 
in  his  seaside  tent,  and  Ned,  who  put  up  at  the  big  beach  hotel, 
shared  Jack's  quarters  for  a  night  or  two,  afterward  insisting  on 
his  friend's  staying  with  him  at  the  famous  hostlery.  Here  he 
met  Leon  Hademy,  a  wealthy  young  Spanish-Cuban,  whom  he 
was  afterward  to  remember  for  many  reasons. 

The  first  began  in  the  big  ball  at  the  hotel,  given  in  honor  of 
the  officers  of  the  war  fleet,  at  which  Afton  Gray  was  introduced 
to  the  handsome  young  foreigner,  a  simple  enough  event  in  Jack's 
eyes  just  then,  but  leading  to  things  which  were  to  be  far  from 
inconsequential  afterward.  He  noted  particularly,  indeed,  as  who 
did  not  ? — the  decided  impression  made  by  Afton  on  the  stranger, 
as  witnessed  by  the  number  of  waltzes  on  her  dancing-card  which 
stood  opposite  his  name ;  but  the  fact  brought  no  ire  to  Tack's 
heart,  outside  that  of  a  rather  intense  disappointment  in  not  being 
able  to  dance  oftener  himself  with  the  best  waltzer  in  town,  and 
"dandy"  hostess  besides,  who  had  brought  back  to  him  a  long-lost 
flavor  of  home.  He  told  Afton  so,  and  she  laughed  with  him  in 
her  own  cheery  way. 

"I  don't  know  how  he  came  by  so  many  dances,"  she  said. 
"I  told  him  I  had  to  save  some  for  all  the  class  boys,  at  least,  and 
thought  their  names  were  all  down  long  ago.  However,  the  hand- 
some Hademy  appears  and  claims  every  other  one — I  don't  know 
how.    Must  be  legerdemain  of  some  kind." 

The  next  evening  was  Jack's  last  on  shore,  and  he  spent  it  all 
at  the  Gray  home — where  his  warm  welcome  and  farewell  at  part- 
ing— brought  a  weakness  to  his  heart  and  eyes  which  Jack  felt 
was  not  unmanly  to  indulge.  The  handshaking  next  morning 
at  the  pier  was  not  half  so  hard,  though  all  Jack's  friends  and 
schoolmates  for  years  past  had  gathered  to  see  him  off.  It  was 
Afton's  face  which  remained  distinct  longer  in  the  crowd  when 
distance  blurred  outlines,  as  the  boat  sped  outward  to  the  Lincoln 
as  it  had  when  he  went  skyward  in  the  perilous  air  flight,  and  Jack 
sensed,  in  a  dim  way — he  could  not  have  explained  why — that  he 
was  glad  her  face  was  the  last  he  saw  on  launching  into  his  new 
life. 

Strenuous  as  were  the  weeks  following,  with  their  new  duties, 
and  strange,  hard  discipline,  they  were  wonderful  ones  to  Jack. 
Their  stay  at  San  Diego  gave  him  time  to  get  partly  accustomed 


TO  HIM  WHO  STRIVES  '       149 

to  requirements,  the  drill  work  coming  much  easier  because  of 
Ned's  former  coaching,  both  by  way  of  verbal  and  written  les- 
sons. 

When  the  fleet  reached  San  Francisco,  Jack  was  quite  at 
ease  in  his  ship's  work,  and  hailed  with  joy  the  news  that  the 
Lincoln's  next  orders  were  for  the  Orient.  Then  came  the  won- 
derful experience  he  had  longed  for,  the  sight  of  strange  lands, 
with  their  stranger  people  and  customs ;  ports  famous  in  history, 
ancient  and  modern ;  peoples  whose  origin  was  linked  with  earth's 
earliest  known  records,  and  scenes  rife  with  incidents  that  had 
thrilled  him  in  days  when  he  had  conned  their  story  in  school- 
book,  and  map.  Luck,  fate,  or  Providence  seemed  to  favor  the 
boy's  wildest  desires,  for  with  Hawaii,  the  Philippines,  Japan 
and  China  visited,  there  came  news  that  they  were  to  sail  to  Aus- 
tralia, and  thence  to  South  America.  All  these  places  held  their 
interesting  personal  incidents,  and  even  adventures  sometimes, 
for  the  absorbed  and  absorbing  youth,  and  when  Time's  dial  re- 
corded an  even  year  passed  since  his  venture  into  the  new  life, 
Jack  could  hardly  believe  that  so  much  could  have  been  experi- 
enced in  the  short  twelvemonths.  The  next  year  took  him  to 
even  further  shores.  Mexico's  Gulf  and  the  Mediterranean's 
indigo  waves  lapped  the  Lincoln's  prow,  and  Italy,  Egypt  and 
Syria's  wonderlands  were  viewed  by  her  eager  crew,  with  plenty 
of  time  to  absorb  the  treasures  of  art  and  architecture,  the  peo- 
ples and  customs. 

It  was  when  they  were  bound  for  the  long  voyage  home,  and 
night  and  day  passed  again  and  again,  with  nothing  to  break  the 
monotony  of  sea  and  sky,  that  it  all  began  to  pall.  Often  during 
the  journey,  Afton  Gray's  words  came  back  to  him,  "You  have 
really  no  country  but  the  ocean,  no  home  but  a  ship's  deck."  It 
was  true  of  himself,  at  least.  Most  of  the  men  aboard,  probably 
all  of  them — had  homes  to  which  they  were  returning.  Mothers 
or  wives  or  sweethearts  waited  their  coming  with  eager  hearts.  It 
came  to  him  with  almost  sickening  force  at  times  that  there  was 
no  one  who  waited  to  welcome  him  from  the  long  absence  from 
home  shores.  He  thought  often  of  his  last  days  there,  the  de- 
lightful week  spent  in  home-fashion  at  the  Grays' ;  but  there  was 
not  even  that,  now.  Afton  he  had  not  heard  from  for  a  year 
past.  She  had  answerd  his  friendly  letters  up  to  that  time,  then 
her  own  had  ceased.  Often  in  the  long  nights  he  found  himself 
thinking  of  her,  the  fine,  frank  brown  eyes  that  had  met  his  own 
in  genuine  liking — expressed  all  through  their  long  comradeship. 
The  finest  girl  he  had  ever  seen,  he  began  to  realize  now.  Her 
ideas  of  life,  too,  were  all  right.  When  he  had  told  her  of  his 
final  decision  as  to  the  Lincoln,  she  had  pictured  it  all  out — 
things  that  then  he  could  not  see — the-  final  ennui  of  a  life  spent 
in  a  round  of  routine  work,  with  no  goal  but  a  possible  promo- 


ISO  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

lion  in  rank,  with  no  actual  thing  done  in  the  way  of  adding  to 
the  sum  of  human  good,  knowledge  or  achievement.  It  had  been 
infinitely  better, v  so  far,  than  the  other  things  which  had  been 
open  to  his  choice,  at  that  time.  All  that  he  had  gained  in  edu- 
cation and  knowledge  since  would  help  him  in  his  development 
more  by  far  than  his  previous  tame  experiences.  But  there  were 
big  things  to  be  done  ashore  that  could  hardly  be  balanced  in  his 
present  life,  unless  Fate,  indeed,  might  bring  one  a  chance  to 
risk  something  in  actual  warfare  for  one's  country.  The  land, 
with  its  wonderful  promise ;  citizenship,  with  its  untold  oppor- 
tunities of  service,  great  as  those  of  actual  battle  ;  and  other  things 
that  came  into  one's  life.  The  thought  brought  back  a  strange 
little  thrill  again,  that  had  begun  to  unsettle  him  with  every  re- 
membrance of  Afton.  She  was  worth  more  than  credits  for  per- 
fect drill  work,  or  advancing  rank  in  a  ship's  list  of  officers,  or 
even  fame  won  in  a  country's  cause ! 

The  idea  came  so  suddenly  that  Jack  was  startled ;  and  yet  it 
must  always  have  been  down  deep  in  his  heart,  he  told  himself. 
Only  a  chump  could  know  a  girl  of  her  calibre  and  not  see  at 
once — that  she  was  the  only  girl ! 

He  spent  many  a  wakeful  night  after  that — planning.  The 
Lincoln  was  bound  for  a  two  week's  stay  at  San  Diego.  That 
would  give  him  time  to  run  down  to  the  old  place — and  find  out 
things.  He  had  still  two  months  to  consider  re-signing  for  ser- 
vice. If  everything  went  well — -with  Afton — and  fate  favored 
him  with  half  a  chance  at  livelihood  on  shore,  he  would  elect  to 
stay  with  the  land  ! 

lie  had  expected  the  Lincoln  to  remain  at  San  Diego,  but  to 
his  joy  the  ship  stayed  only  two  days  there,  then  went  north, 
bound  for  San  Francisco,  with  a  few  days'  stay  on  the  way  in 
the  quiet  home  harbor. 

They  turned  into  it  at  sunset,  but  it  was  eight  o'clock  be- 
fore Jack  managed  to  get  ashore.  He  went  straight  to  the  Gray 
home,  and  knocked  at  the  door  with  a  strange  feeling  in  his 
heart.  Afton  herself  answered,  and  greeted  him  with  unmis- 
takable pleasure,  as  did  her  mother.  There  was  a  brief,  fifteen 
minutes  of  genuine,  hearty  reunion — which  passed,  however,  when 
a  second  knock  sounded  without.  Jack  had  to  prod  memory  for 
identification  of  the  partially  familiar  face  of  the  guest  who  en- 
tered, but  it  came  to  him  presently  as  that  of  Ned's  acquaintance 
whom  he  had  met  before  his  departure  at  the  big  Beach  Hotel. 

The  puzzling  thing  that  remained  was  the  change  in  Alton's 
manner.  It  was  that  of  a  sudden  tension,  a  restraint,  and  even 
coldness  taking  the  place  of  the  old  frankness  of  a  moment  before. 
Mrs.  Gray,  too,  seemed  to  reflect  it,  and  presently  Tack  guessed 
its  meaning,  told  in  Hademy's  conscious  air  of  proprietorship  and 
assured  ease. 


TO  HIM  WHO  STRIVES  151 

This  grew,  momentarily,  into  something  aggressive — an  un- 
expressed but  intense  sense  of  dislike  for  Jack's  presence.  Offen- 
sively cool,  he  managed  to  convey  in  tone  and  manner  a  con- 
temptuous indifference  for  the  young  sailor  which  roused  Jack's 
ire.  His  nature  was  not  given  to  endurance  of  that  sort  of  thing, 
and  his  resentment  would  have  shown  in  something  as  openly 
hostile  as  Hademy's,  had  not  Afton's  own  manner  chilled  him. 
More  than  uncomfortable  at  this,  and  smarting  under  Hademy's 
insolent  bearing,  Jack  soon  took  his  departure.  The  import  of 
it  all  was  not  long  in  finding  explanation.  At  the  corner  Jim 
Lawler,  an  old  schoolmate,  stopped  him  for  a  hearty  handshake. 

"Been  at  the  Grays'  ?"  he  asked,  when  greetings  were  over. 

Jack  nodded. 

"It  takes  nerve — don't  you  think,  nowadays?"  asked  Lawler, 
"especially  if  the  foreign  fiance  happens  to  be  present." 

Jack's  heart  sank.     "It's  all  settled,  then,  is  it?"  he  asked. 

"Oh,  sure !  The  wedding's  set  for  June.  Might  as  well  be 
married  now,  though,  for  all  the  chance  Afton  has  for  other  com- 
panionships." 

"Jealousy,  is  it?"  asked  Jack,  mechanically. 

"You'd  think  so,  if  you'd  seen  the  game,  since  he's  sure  of 
Afton.  Hear  about  Bert  Harley?  Insulted  him  one  evening  for 
calling  on  Afton — just  in  the  old,  friendly  way,  you  know — after 
her  engagement.  Bert  resented  it — and  there  came  near  being  a 
tragedy.  Since  that,  the  Gray  domicile  is  shy  of  masculine  callers." 

"I  can't  reconcile  it  all  with  Afton's  spirit.  She  used  to  be 
different,"  said  Jack. 

"That's  just  the  trouble.  A  lot  of  us  would  be  willing  to 
bluff  a  little,  play  a  harmless  game  of  freeze-out  now  and  then, 
if  she  were  willing.  But  Hademy  seems  to  have  complete  mastery 
there — has  a  lot  of  money,  which  may  account  for  some  of  it. 
Then  there's  an  eastern  aunt  of  Afton's  who  is  helping  Hademy 
to  play  his  game— thinks  Afton  honored  by  the  chance  of  getting 
into  one  of  the  old  Spanish  families,  to  say  nothing  of  all  the 
cash.  He's  made  that  within  the  past  five  years,  I  understand, 
furnishing  firearms  for  the  Mexicans — and  in  orange  groves.  Yes, 
he's  one  of  a  big  gun-firm  in  Texas,  and  has  besides  nearly  a 
whole  county  laid  out  in  orange  groves  here  in  the  State.  He's 
in  some  sort  of  litigation  with  the  Japs  now,  though — wants  to 
freeze  them  out  of  the  orange  business.  They've  got  a  big  place 
adjoining  his,  and  they  stand  in  his  way." 

jack  had  little  interest  in  his  friend's  news  outside  the  fact 
of  Afton's  engagement,  and  after  a  few  more  words  went  back 
to  the  ship.  He  passed  sleepless  hours  re-forming  the  plans  he 
had  nourished  on  the  homeward  trip.  Something,  the  vital  thing, 
he  realized  now,  was  missing  to  give  them  interest.     He  would 


152  [MPR<  >VEMENT    ER  \ 

keep  on  in  the  same  way,  now.  It  did  not  seem  to  matter  much 
what  became  of  his  future. 

He  spent  a  restless  day  aboard,  wishing  impatiently  that  the 
Lincoln  might  go  on  her  wav.  Then,  at  nightfall,  he  could  stand 
it  no  longer  and  went  ashore.  On  every  street  he  met  the  boys 
of  the  Lincoln's  crew,  some  of  them  native-born  sons  of  the  little 
sea-town,  joyful  in  reunion  with  home  people,  many  of  them  with 
their  sweethearts — who  wore  proudly  the  sailors'  hat  bands  bear- 
ing the  Lincoln's  name.  Jack  felt  the  old,  lonely  feeling  tug  at  his 
heart,  that  had  been  there  during  the  first  year  after  his  parents' 
death.  The  sight  of  all  the  cheery  faces  suddenly  became  unen- 
durable. With  a  quick  impulse  he  boarded  a  line  of  cars  outside 
the  Electric  station,  not  caring  where  it  might  be  bound.  It 
stopped  at  San  Pedro,  and  Jack,  wishing  only  to  be  moving — 
boarded  a  passing  streetcar.  He  did  not  note  its  direction  until 
the  conductor  called,  "Point  Firman,"  then  left  his  seat. 

He  knew  the  way  well  from  previous  excursions,  and  strode 
away  up  the  incline  to  the  cliffs.  His  last  trip  there  had  been 
with  the  jolly  beach-party  of  two  years  since,  and  Afton  had  been 
his  "partner."  He  remembered  they  had  spent  a  half-hour  on  a 
dizzy  little  niche  on  the  cliff's  front,  much  to  the  dismay  of  their 
party.  Tt  suited  Jack's  mood,  just  now  to  seek  out  the  rather 
perilous  resting-place.  It  was  not  easy,  groping  in  the  darkness 
around  the  steep  front,  but  his  ship's  life  had  made  him  used  to 
climbing,  and  he  was  seen  seated  in  the  nook  high  above  the  sea. 

Away  from  human  sight,  the  discouraging  thoughts  which 
Jack  had  fought  down  so  many  hours,  held  full  sway.  Home- 
sickness, the  human  longing  for  close  home-ties,  became  a  ver- 
itable tumult  in  his  heart — dangerous  from  long  suppression.  Life, 
after  all,  seemed  not  worth  while.  Brave  as  his  struggle  might 
be,  it  could  not  win  for  him  the  priceless  things  he  wanted  most. 
The  life  stretching  before  him — the  possible  things — all  seemed 
empty — a  rare  and  dangerous  mood  for  one  of  Jack's  sanguine 
temperament ! 

Then,  suddenly  something  happened.  Just  above  him  on  the 
jutting  cliff,  stood  a  little  rustic  summer  house,  sheltering  a  bench 
for  tourists.  From  its  interior  came  the  sound  of  a  voice — one 
just  now  distinct  in  Jack's  consciousness.  He  could  not  doubt 
the  sharp  sibilance  of  certain  words  which  marked  Hademy's 
tones. 

A  strange  voice  answered — and  its  words  wiped  all  selfish 
brooding  from  Jack's  mind. 

"Blow  up  the  battleship !    You  have  gone  mad  !" 

"You  will  not  think  so  when  I  explain  my  plans.  War  is 
bound  to  come  soon,  with  Japan— is  it  madness  to  precipitate  it 
by  perhaps  a  few  years?  Think  what  it  would  mean  for  you  and 
me  just  now.     A  thousand  acres  of  oranges — to  say  nothing  of 


TO  HIM   WHO  STRIVES.  153 

the  contracts  for  firearms.  It  would  mean  just  that,  I  tell  you. 
A  sudden  action  by  either  party,  and  war  will  be  declared  -within 
a  month.  With  two  such  foes  pitted  against  each  other,  it  might 
last  half  a  dozen  years.  There  was  the  Cicil  War,  you  remember, 
Vhich  held  out  nearly  as  long.  Every  Japanese  subject  would  be 
recalled — giving  us  our  chance  at  the  land  we  want,  and  for  a 
song.     Surely  you  can  see  it !' 

"But  the  price — the  risk!" 

"The  price  is  an  American  battleship.  Do  you  think  I  owe 
them  anything — these  Americans?  Think  how  long  my  family 
lived  in  poverty,  through  the  ruin  brought  by  their  interference 
in  our  affairs  in  Cuba.  I  would  light  the  fuse  to  the  mine  myself 
if  it  could  be  done  safely.  But  there  is  a  point  right  there  which 
cannot  be  slighted.  Suspicion  must  rest  nowhere  but  upon  an 
alien.  I  have  been  busy  starting  rumors  of  some  plot — secret 
meetings  of  the  Japanese  in  Los  Angeles — you  have  seen  the 
papers  ?  It  has  all  been  laughed  at,  but  wait  and  see !  My  plan 
is  this.  Tomorrow  evening  you  hire  the  Jap  fisherman  at  Rolfe's 
pier  for  a  trip  out  to  the  ship.  There  will  be  dozens  of  other  boats 
hovering  about — there  is  to  be  a  banquet  for  the  town  officials  on 
board,  given  in  return  for  their  courtesy  to  the  ship's  officers  to- 
night at  the  Beach  Hotel.  That  will  be  your  chance  to  get  near 
enough  with  the  bomb.  Once  laid,  and  your  boat  within  safe  dis- 
tance, you  can  do  what  is  necessary." 

"And  my  Jap  fiisherman !"  said  the  other,  ironically.  "I  sup- 
pose he  becomes  a  docile  and  blind  instrument  to  his  own  and 
possibly  his  country's  undoing  !" 

"He  is  to  know  nothing  except  the  ostensible  purpose  of  your 
trip.  I  have  planned  a  way  for  disposing  of  him  later — and  inci- 
dentally helping  out  my  scheme.  His  presence  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  ship  will  be  noted — have  no  fear.  I  shall  have  my  own  pleas- 
ure party  aboard  a  launch  for  that  purpose ;  then  there  will  be 
things  placed  in  his  hut  to  help  out  when  investigation  begins." 

Jack  heard  the  other's  voice  in  answer,  but  the  tones  were  low 
— -so  low  he  could  not  distinguish  the  words.  Then,  presently, 
thev  went  away.  Jack  climbed  back  to  the  narrow  path.  He 
could  see  dimly  the  figures  of  the  two  men  ahead,  and  crept  noise- 
lessly after  them.  Fifty  yards  from  the  street  car,  they  climbed 
into  a  waiting  auto  and  drove  away.  Jack  could  only  guess  their 
destination,  but  quickly  made  his  plans.  Leaving  the  street  car  at 
the  town  corner,  Jack  ran  hastily  down  to  the  wharf.  A  dozen 
small  boats  lay  there,  and  Jack  chartered  the  nearest  one — a  row- 
boat,  and  seizing  the  oars,  pulled  away  for  the  opposite  shore — 
a  long  narrow  neck  of  land  whose  inner  end  touched  San  Pedro. 
The  short  cut  across  gave  him  a  possible  advantage — he  .could 
only  wait  and  see !  Landing  at  Rolfe's  pier,  Jack  crept  into  the 
shadow  of  a  hovel  bordering  the  water,  and  waited. 


154  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

In  less  than  ten  minutes  Hademy's  car  ran  into  the  little  lane 
beyond,  and  Hademy  himself  knocked  at  the  door  of  a  poor  shack 
not  twenty  paces  away.  Locating  the  place,  definitely,  Jack 
slipped  into  his  boat. 

The  civic  banquet  held  for  the  Lincoln's  officers  lasted  until 
midnight,  but  Jack,  feverishly  waiting,  did  not  delay  his  news 
longer  than  their  arrival  on  the  ship.  It  was  daylight  when  the 
group  of  officers  disbanded  from  the  long,  exciting  discussion  of 
Jack's  story.  Definitely,  to  the  last  detail,  plans  had  been  made 
for  the  capture  of  the  conspirators.  Government  detectives  shad- 
owed Hademy  and  his  companion-plotter  all  day;  but  it  was  Jack 
who,  at  the  suggestion  of  the  Lincoln's  commander,  played  the 
chief  role  in  their  capture. 

At  dusk,  when  Hademy's  companion  entered  the  row-boat 
hired  the  night  before.  Jack, in  alien  garb,  and  mumbling  the  really 
fine  Japanese  lingo  he  had  picked  up  from  the  ship's  cook,  rowed 
him,  and  his  mysterious  package,  out  to  the  battleship. 

Tt  was  almost  too  easy,  as  Jack  said ;  for  there  was  Hademy 
in  his  own  launch,  skimming  here  and  there  with  his  pleasure 
party,  among  whom  was  Afton — Jack  noted — with  the  man  clev- 
erly calling  attention  to  the  little  boat  rowed  by  Jack's  hands. 

All  this  did  not  keep  Jack's  wary  eye  from  a  strict  watch  on 
his  own  companion — and  the  deadly  package  hidden  in  the  rear 
of  the  boat.  When  the  man,  as  the  dusk  grew,  stooped  to  lift  this 
into  the  sea,  it  was  Jack's  oar  which  felled  him,  and  Jack's  hand 
which  held  him  while  a  boat-load  of  the  Lincoln's  sailors  shot  from 
behind  the  battleship  and  took  it  all  in  tow.  It  was  a  little  harder 
with  Hademy,  who  tried  to  escape  by  leaping  into  the  sea  :  but  then 
this  separated  him  happily  from  his  own  launch-party,  thus  spar- 
ing them  more  unpleasant  things. 

The  following  official  investigation  was  conducted  behind 
closed  doors,  and  at  its  end  Hademy  and  his  co-conspirator  were 
sentenced  to  the  penitentiary.  Five  days  later.  Jack  was  sum- 
moned into  the  presence  of  the  Lincoln's  commander  and  pre- 
sented with  a  lieutenancy,  a  medal,  and  a  telegraphic  dispatch  of 
praise  from  the  United  States  government. 

It  was  all  fine — and  Jack  was  appropriately  grateful — but  his 
joy  would  have  been  fuller  had  dear,  missing  ones  been  present  to 
rejoice  with  him  at  this  unexpected  turn  in  his  fortune.  There 
was,  however,  to  be  compensation.  It  was  a  message  from  Afton 
asking  him  to  spend  the  evening  at  her  home.  "As  an  old  school- 
mate  1  have  a  right  to  celebrate  your  triumph,"  it  read,  and  Jack 
found  waiting  him  there  a  score  of  the  old  friends — who  left 
nothing  undone  to  show  him  their  pride  in  his  achievement. 

There  were  other  evenings  at  Afton's  after  that,  for  Jack  had 
a  leave  of  absence,  and  Afton's  manner  left  him  no  doubt  of  her 
genuine  pleasure  in  his  presence.    Then,  one  evening  they  drifted 


TO  HIM  WHO  STRIVES.  155 

into  the  subject  nearest  Jack's  heart,  and  later  Afton  told  him  of 
her  joy  at  the  ending  of  her  affair  with  Hademy. 

"There  has  always  been  a  strange  dread  mingled  with  my 
sense  of  his  attraction,"  she  confessed.  "A  hundred  times  I  have 
thought  I  would  end  it  all ;  but  he  seemed  to  possess  some  com- 
pelling power  which  kept  me  silent.  It  was  felt  by  others,  too,  so 
that  I  cannot  blame  myself,  wholly.  All  through  it  you  have  been 
a  perpetual  memory — one  which  helped  to  keep  me  restless  under 
my  pledge  to  him." 

Then  Jack  told  her  his  past  home-coming  plans — so  quickly 
shattered  at  news  of  her  engagement.  "I  have  really  no  right  to 
be  talking  this  all  to  you,  even  now,"  he  said.  "My  promotion 
means,  I  suppose,  that  I  shall  have  to  keep  on  with  my  present  life, 
and  that  means  almost  constant  separation." 

"Even  that  need  not  be  forever,"  said  Afton,  "and  besides, 
I  have  felt  always  that  whatever  you  really  wish  will  come  your 
way.  You  have  never  slighted  a  chance  that  came  to  you — and 
to  that  kind  of  a  soul  all  good  things  come  at  last." 

Her  words  proved  prophecy.  The  next  day  he  met  Lindley, 
who  had  been  spending  his  furlough  in  his  native,  inland  town. 

"You're  the  man  I  came  to  the  Beach  to  see,"  said  Ned.  "I 
want  to  make  you  a  proposition.  I'm  going  to  resign  from  the 
navy.  I'm  going  to  be  married,  and  I'm  going  to  orange-farming 
— and  I  want  you  to  help  me  out  by  following  suit — at  least  with 
the  first  and  last,  if  not  with  the  middle  proposition.  Father 
has  promised  me  a  mammoth  orange-tract  on  condition  I  work  it 
myself.  Now,  I'm  willing  to  live  on  it  and  boss  it,  but  you  know 
how  shy  I  am  on  practical  matters  pertaining  to  land  industries. 
You  are  used  to  the  orange  business  from  your  babyhood  up — and 
you're  just  the  man  to  take  charge  of  the  whole  concern.  I'll 
give  you  a  third  interest  in  it,  besides  your  salary — for  your 
work." 

Jack  gasped.  Fortune  could  have  brought  no  dearer  thing 
just  now  than  this ! 

"I  know  you've  been  promoted  into  the  titled  navy  list,"  went 
on  Ned,  "but  I  know,  too,  from  our  'heart  to  heart'  talks  on  the 
long,  last  voyage,  just  how  you  want  to  'cut'  the  sea.  You've  got 
a  good  excuse  now,  unless  the  gold  fringe  tempts  you  more  than 
my  scheme." 

"I'm  ready  to  join  you  on  all  three  of  your  proposed  plans," 
exclaimed  Jack,  "the  central  one  included." 

Ned  stared  a  moment  and  then  shook  hands.  "I  can  guess  the 
girl,"  he  said,  "and  there's  only  one  other  in  the  land  that  can 
beat  her." 

"It's  going  to  take  courage  to  tell  the  Commander,  just  now," 
said  Jack. 

"He  won't  look  at  it  in  your  light  at  all,"  reassured  Ned. 


156  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

"You'll    he    a    double    hero     noble    renunciation    of   glory— and 
all  that." 

"I  hope  it  will  look  that  way,"  laughed  Jack. 

"When  do  the  wedding  bells  ring?"  insisted  Ned. 

Jack  stared.     "T  haven't  dared  to  think  of  anything  like  that 
yet."' 

"Mine  chime  at  the   merry  Christmas-tide,"   laughed   Ned. 
"Why  not  make  it  a  double  affair?" 

Jack  gasped  again.     "That's  only  six  months  away!" 

"Just  time  for  the  bride's  trosseau — and  your  own  polite  es- 
cape from  proffered  naval  honors,"  prodded  Ned. 

\nd  Christmas  it  was!  Holly,  mistletoe  and  evergreen, 
brought  from  near  mountains,  mingled  with  orangeblossoms  and 
roses  plucked  from  garden  trees,  decked  the  rooms  where  Jack 
and  Afton  stood  to  receive  the  wedding  wishes  for  their  new 
life.  Chief  among  the  gifts  was  the  handsome  silver  service  bear- 
ing the  outline  of  the  Lincoln,  sent  as  a  token  of  goodwill  from  his 
past  naval  companions. 

"That  will  be  dearer  to  me  than  anything,"  said  Afton,  "as 

an  emblem  of  two  splendid  rescues — the  Lincoln's  and  my  own." 

"To  me  it  stands  for  the  first  real  Christmas  I've  had  in  years," 

said  Jack,  "and  for  the  most  blessed  Christmas  gift  that  ever 

fell  to  man." 


God's  Serving  Angels 


'Tis  written  that  the  serving  angels  stand 

Beside  God's  throne,  ten  myriads  on  each  hand, 

Waiting,  with  eager  hearts  and  watchful  eyes, 

To  do  their  Master's  heavenly  embassies. 

Quicker  than  thought  his  high  commands  they  read, 

Swifter  than  light  to  execute  them  speed, 

Bearing  the  word  of  power  from  st„r  to  star — 

Some  hither  and  some  thither,  near  and  far. 

And  unto  these  naught  is  too  high  or  low, 

Too  mean  or  mighty,  if  He  will  it  so; 

Neither  is  any  creature,  great  or  small, 

Beyond  his  pity,  which  embraceth  all. 

Because  his  eye  beholdeth  all  which  are. 

Sees  without  search,  and  cometh  without  care: 

Nor  any  ocean  rolls  so  vast  that  he 

Forgets  one  wave  of  all  that  restless  sea. 

Edwin  Arnold. 


The  Morning  Breaks 


(This  selection  is  for  the  Junior  Boys'  Choruses,  to  be  sung  by- 
contestant's,  at  the  final  M.  I.  A.  contest,  June,  1914.) 


Parley  P.  Pratt 

Moderato.     Four  bars  prelude. 


Evan  Stephens 


^   y 

1.  The  morn  -  ing     breaks,  the  shad-ows     flee;        Lo!     Zi  -  on's 

2.  Je  -   ho  .  van    speaks!  let  earth  give     ear,        And   Gen    tile 

__*_ c=q # — ^ ^ c^4— 


E^ 


^ 


_| #—■ I* m  r- ' -^ — — i ^TT — K  -   -. — M~ — h»if *  — m 1 

#y — * —    *~*v#~r^ *— *-— - — Fp * — g — • — 

standard     is      un  -  furled!     The  dawning  of        a     brighter 
na  -  tions  turn  and     live;         His  mighty     arm    is     mak  -  ing 


N 1- 


5 


=1 


*• — N \ 


#    -J? 


-i P «,  -F-4-^ — i— •— +r-i= 


-• — 


day         Ma  -  jes-tic       ris  -  es 
bare,       His  cov'nant  peo  -  pie 


on     the   world.  The  clouds  of 
to     re  -  ceive.  Angels  from 


2C p^-s. — 0 — *^# — Sf# — Fz3 — sla-ar — *t — S — F»— f *f» — +vM 


er  -  ror    dis  -  ap  -  pear       Before     the  rays     of     truth    di- 
heav'n  and  truth  from  earth  Have  met  and  both  have   rec   -    ord 


3: 


0 


-4— 


158 


IMPROVEMENT    ERA 


*JE 


vine;         The    glory     bursting  from     a  -    far,       Wide  o'er  the 
borne;     Thus     Zi-on's  light  is     burst-ing     forth,      To  cheer  her 


Ritard. 


a  tempo 


±  «i 


-»— — *» — # 


-*— I — 4- 


na  -  tions  soon  will    shine.      The  morning  breaks,  the  shadows 
children's  glad   re     -  turn. 


V   ± 


— — N — \ 

— = i- 

-sn =1 

-& 


entity  TZl d    "9   STj   I J       'ft    8--g— -| 


flee;      Lo!  Zion's    standard     is      un  -  furled!      The  dawning 


,r? 


A  A 

t       A       A_J_W   ' 


AAA 


A— J— kj , F\ — P FV-.-H — J-fn-A FV-r-1 ^— *n 


Ritard,  Fine. 

of  a     brighter  day,     Ma-jes-tic      ris  -  es  on  the     world. 


* f\ |V-  —i 


— i-^H-  -#-      -•-        — I-  —I-      -#-      -0- 


* — # — *— ± 


1 


3= 


THE  MORNING  BREAKS. 
A  little  slower.     2nd  Soprano. 


159 


The     gen-tile     fulness    now  comes  in, 


1st  Soprano. 


Is  -  rael's  blessings        are        at        hand, 

Ritard. 


.ami       is  -  raei  s  uiessmgs  are  at  nanu, 

Ritard.  D.S. 

— 0-3 — I — \-f 1 1 = — 1 ^ — * 1 — I ft — iv- n 

Lo!Judah'sremnant,cleansed  from  sin,Shall  in  their  promisedCanaan  stand. 


t3L— *-£=3*^v  ^ 


Note— Full  sheet  copy, with  piano  or  organ  accompaniment, should  be 
procured  for  the  accompanist;  regular  price  40  cents.  Author  will  send 
to  M.  I.  A.  at  reduced  price  of  25  cents  per  copy.  Address,  E.  Stephens, 
corner  12th  South  and  State  Sts.,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 


A  Christmas  Thought 

He  came  a  guest,  yet'  no  one  bade  him  stay, 
E'en  though  with  him  came  love-gifts  for  us  all; 
No  room  for  him,  a  stranger  in  their  hall. 
They  thrust  him  out,  nor  cared  what  might  befall, 
For  whom  they  wail  in  sackcloth  till  this  day. 

Men's  hearts  are  touched  with  thoughts  of  Bethlehem, 
Where  love-songs  floated  down  the  heavenly  way; 
And  heaven  lay  close  to  earth,  on  that  glad  day, 
When  Christ  was  born  with  a  right  to  reign  alway 

As  Prince  and  King  o'er  all  the  world  of  men. 

Lydia  D.  Alder. 


Discoveries  on  the  Colorado 


BY   JOSEPH    F.   ANDERSON,    OF   THE   UTAH    ARCHAEOLOGICAL   EXPEDI- 
TION, 1913,  FORMERLY  PRINCIPAL  OF  THE  MONROE  HIGH  SCHOOL 


// — The  Homes,  and  Social  and  Religious  Customs  of  the  Cliff 

Dwellers. 

The  land  of  the  Cliff  Dwellers  seems  to  have  been  the  north- 
ern frontier  of  a  civilization,  distinguished  by  permanent  dwell- 
ings, and  which  extended  northward  from  South  America,  reach- 
ing a  marvelous  climax  in  Central  America.  Mexico  follows, 
with  an  almost  equal  culture ;  and  the  Cliff  Dwellers  and  Pueblos 
with  varying  stages  of  a  somewhat  lesser  culture. 

The  ruins  of  Mexico  and  Central  America  show  evidence  of 
peoples  who  were  masters  in  architectural  skill,  and  whose 
sculptural  productions  may  favorably  be  compared  with  those  of 
ancient  Egypt  and  Mesopotamia.  Were  their  palaces  and  tem- 
ples intact  today,  they  would  easily  be  classed  among  the  monu- 
mental works  of  the  world.  They  were  people  who  had  a  calen- 
dar, and  measured  time  as  the  ancients  in  the  Old  World  did. 
They  have  left  evidences  that  they  had  a  written  language  and 
a  system  of  theology. 

The  ruins  of  the  homes  of  the  Pueblos  and  Cliff  Dwellers 
extend  over  large  sections  of  Arizona,  New  Mexico,  southwestern 
Colorado,  southern  Utah,  and  even  into  California  and  Nevada. 
The  Pueblos  are  the  community-houses  out  in  the  open — on  the 
mesas  and  in  the  valleys.  The  Cliff  Dwellings  are  the  groups 
of  houses  built  in  the  cliffs.  The  latter  are  the  better  preserved, 
having  in  most  cases  been  protected  by  overhanging  cliffs  and 
ledges.  It  is  to  these  that  the  Utah  expedition  has  chiefly  de- 
voted its  attention. 

Just  why  the  Cliff  Dwellers  built  their  houses  so  high  up  on 
the  cliff  walls,  under  the  sheltering  rim-rocks,  has  been  a  much- 
mooted  question.  By  some  it  is  held  that  the  motive  was  defen- 
sive against  the  ravages  of  warlike  and  blood-thirsty  enemies  of 
a  meaner  culture,  and  of  a  nomadic  life.  This  theory  is  sustained 
by  the  fact  that,  in  most  cases,  strategic  situations  overlooking 
abysmal  canyons,  or  the  secluded  recesses  of  high-walled  caves 
in  an  almost  inacessible  country,  were  chosen  for  their  homes. 
Usually  a  precipitous  climb  of  several  hundred  feet  up  the  sheer 
cliff  would  confront  the  invader  and  make  it  possible  for  the 
defenders  to  dislodge  him  with  a  stone  or  an  arrow,  before  he 
could   complete   his   laborious   ascent.     Cliff   houses   have   been 


DISCOVERIES    ON    THE    COLORADO 


161 


found  with  holes  in  the  walls,  resembling  loopholes,  through 
which  missiles  could  be  discharged.  Here  and  there  are  rows 
of  thick  slabs  of  stone,  set  on  edge,  a  few  feet  outside  the  line 
ot  dwellings,  as  if  used  as  defensive  palisades.  Buried  in  the 
debris  of  some  of  the  ruins  have  been  found  skeletons  of  men 
who  seem  to  have  met  violent  death,  from  the  fact  that  their 
skulls  are  indented  as  if  by  a  battle  ax. 

m  The  theory  that  the  cliff  dwellings  were  not  thus  peculiarly 
situated  for  purposes  of  defense  is  supported  by  the  fact  that  few 
of  the  ruins  show  signs  of  combat.  The  weapons  found  are  nu- 
merous and  varied, 
but  may  have  been 
used  chiefly  in  hunt- 
ing— the  small  arrows 
for  shooting  small 
game,  and  the  large 
arrows  and  spears  for 
bringing  down  the 
wild  mountain  sheep 
and  goats,  deer  and 
antelope,  and  perhaps 
the  buffalo.  Bears, 
lions,  wolves  and  oth- 
er animals  of  the 
fiercer  type  were  also 
victims  of  the  prehis- 
toric hunter's  aim. 

These   home-loving 
people  had  the  gregar- 
ious instinct  strongly 
developed.       Their 
houses    in    the    cliffs 
were     built     on     the 
apartment  house  plan, 
often  containing 
enough   rooms   for  a 
fair-sized  village.  The 
Kitsil     (broken     pot- 
tery)   cliff    house    in 
Sagi-ot-Sosi   Canyon,   Arizona,    is   a   community   house   of    148 
rooms.    Another  in  Twin  Cave  Cove,  of  Dogoshie-Boko  (Grease- 
wood   Canyon)    contains   over   one   hundred   rooms,   eighty-two 
of  which   were  completely  excavated  by  the  Utah   expedition. 
The  Bat  Woman  house,  also  excavated  by  the  Utah  expedition, 
is  a  smaller  group  of  forty-eight  rooms.     Other  houses  contain 
still  fewer  rooms,  but  everywhere  there  is  evidence  of  close  com- 
munity life.    Each  group  had  its  granaries  and  storehouses,  and 


Photo  by  I.  Brooks,  Utah  Arch.  Expd. 

THE  UTAH  ARCHAEOLOGICAL  EXPEDITION 

EXPLORING   THE    LAND    OF   THE 

CLIFF  DWELLERS 


162 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Photo  by  Harper,  Utah  Arch.  Expd. 
LIVING  ROOMS  OF  THE  CLIFF  DWELLERS,  SHOWING  STRUCTURES  TWO 
AND  THREE   STORIES   HIGH 


a  common  ceremonial  chamber  or  chapel.  The  respective  fam- 
ily groups  had  each  its  living  room,  which  was  at  once  the 
kitchen,  dining  room,  parlor  and  bedroom-.  The  large  number  of 
cliff  dwellings  found  in  the  country  already  explored  indicates 
that  the  population  of  the  vanished  people  must  have  been  nu- 
merous, as  well  as  extensive.  The  broad  areas  of  rough,  broken 
country,  still  unexplored,  undoubtedly  holds  many  new  wonders 
which  will,  in  time,  be  found  by  the  persistent  archaeologist.  In 
this  work,  the  University  of  Utah,  through  Dean  Byron  Cum- 
mings,  is  just  now  taking  the  lead.  Many  of  the  most  important 
discoveries  of  the  last  ten  years  have  been  made  by  the  Dean. 
Besides  discovering  some  of  the  largest  and  most  unique  cliff 
dwellings  known,  he  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  explorer  and 
discoverer  of  some  important  natural  wonders,  among  which  is 
Nonnezoshie  (great  arch),  by  all  odds  the  largest  natural  bridge 
in  the  world. 

The  Cliff  Dweller  was  first  of  all  a  farmer,  and  a  good  one. 
But  he  did  not  live  on  his  farm.  In  many  cases  his  cliff  home  is 
far  removed  from  any  arable  tract.  All  the  products  of  the  farm 
— in  fact  everything  he  used — had  to  be  laboriously  carried  up 
the  steep  ascent  to  his  home.  His  wood,  his  meat,  his  water,  and 
even  much  of  the  material  from  which  he  built  his  house,  had 
to  be  fastened  to  his  back  and  thus  carried,  in  many  cases,  sev- 


DISCOVERIES    ON   THE   COLORADO  163 

eral  hundred  feet  up  sheer  cliffs.  Often  it  was  necessary  to 
climb,  hand  and  foot,  up  perpendicular  rock  surfaces.  For  this 
purpose  he  had  chipped  out  hand  and  foot  holes  in  the  rock. 
These  niches,  though  much  weathered,  are  still  of  great  service 
to  the  modern  explorer,  who  does  well  to  make  the  ascent  with 
no  load  at  all  on  his  back.  Not  all  of  the  cliff  dwellings,  however, 
are  so  extremely  difficult  to  reach,  while  a  few  are  so  elevated  and 
nearly  inaccessible  as  to  require  the  use  of  long  ropes,  and  some- 
times ladders  made  of  the  tallest  pine  trees,  to  reach  them. 

These  ancient  folk  built  strong  houses  of  stone  masonry  and, 
less  commonly,  of  adobe  or  of  lattice  work,  plastered  with  clay. 
The  apartments  seem  to  have  been  laid  out  according  to  care- 
fully-made plans,  with  a  view  to  economy  of  space  and  easy  com- 
munication from  one  room  to  another.  Looked  at  from  a  dis- 
tance, the  typical  cliff  house  gives  the  appearance  of  an  impreg- 
nable fortress,  with  its  walls  of  solid  masonry  presenting  a  firm 
and  imposing  front.  The  front  walls  are  built  near  the  rim  of 
the  cave  platform,  which  is  curved  to  the  general  form  of  the 
amphitheatre,  the  noble  arch  which  shelters  the  cliff-palace  often 
rising  to  an  overhanging  height  of  several  hundred  feet.  These 
are,  of  course,  natural  recesses,  but  they  appear  as  if  some 
titanic  hand  had  hewn  them  out.  The  walls  of  masonry  are  built 
of  hewn  stone,  and  we  marvel  that  a  people  with  only  tools  made 
of  wood  and  stone  could  accomplish  such  work. 

The  rooms  of  a  typical  dwelling  may  be  divided  into  four 
classes  according  to  their  uses:  the  towers,  the  store  rooms,  the 
living  rooms,  and  the  kivas,  or  ceremonial  chambers.  The  houses 
are  rarely  more  than  three  stories  high  and  usually  but  one.  The 
store  rooms  and  kivas  are  always  on  the  ground  floor.  There  is 
no  regular  entrance  to  the  rooms ;  it  may  be  through  a  side  wall, 
through  a  roof,  or  even  through  the  ceilings  of  rooms,  leading 
from  one  story  to  another  by  means  of  ladders.  The  entrance  to 
the  kivas  is  always  through  the  roof  by  means  of  a  ladder. 

The  Cliff  Dwellers  "lived"  in  the  living  room.  These  rooms 
are  the  most  numerous  in  any  cliff  dwelling.  In  a  dwelling  of  one 
hundred  fifty  rooms,  probably  one  hundred  would  be  living  rooms. 
If  we  suppose  that  a  family  of  an  average  of  six  members  occu- 
pied each  of  these  rooms,  we  should  have  a  total  population  of 
six  hundred  in  one  large  cliff  dwelling,  which  would  constitute 
a  fair  sized  village  community. 

In  such,  a  dwelling  would  be  found  one  or  more  kivas.  The 
kiva  seems  to  have  been  the  room  where  the  religious  rites  and 
ceremonies  were  performed.  The  Hopi  Indians  now  living  in 
Arizona  use  similar  kivas  for  those  purposes.  It  was  their 
church  and  council  chamber.  The  whole  life  of  the  family  seems 
to  have  centered  about  the  kiva.  It  was  the  sacred  place  which 
seemed  to  unite  the  clan  and  solidify  the  community  life.     If 


164  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

analogous  to  the  Hopi  kiva,  it  was  here  that  the  sacred  rites  of 
birth  were  performed. 

The  kiva  is  circular,  and  usually  sunk  a  few  feet  below  the 
level  of  the  surface.  The  floor  is  smooth  and  the  walls  are  well 
plastered  and  often  covered  with  inscriptions.  The  striking  fea- 
tures of  the  kiva  are  the  sipapu,  the  fire-pot,  the  fire-screen  and 
the  sacred  flue,  resembling  a  smoke-stack,  through  which,  ac- 
cording to  the  Hopi  belief,  the  new-born  spirit  emerges  into  the 
outer  world.  The  sipapu  is  a  small  hole,  six  or  eight  inches  deep, 
in  the  middle  of  the  floor.  Excepting  the  uncertain  Hopi  an- 
alogy, the  whole  purpose  and  significance  of  the  kiva  of  the  Cliff 


Photo  by  Rynearson,  Utah  Arch.  Expd. 

A  KIVA  OF  THE  CLIFF  DWELLERS,   SHOWING  ENTRANCE  BY  MEANS  OF 

LADDER 

Dwellers  is  shrouded  in  mystery,  but  everything  seems  to  indi- 
cate a  deeply  sacred  significance,  as  if  it  were  a  "Holy  of 
Holies." 

The  living  rooms  may  be  distinguished  from  the  store  rooms, 
first  of  all,  by  their  smoky  walls;  for  chimneys  were  unknown, 
and  the  only  escape  for  smoke  was  through  doors  and  windows, 
or  holes  in  the  roof.  The  walls  are  usually  smoothly  plastered. 
Some  walls  show  several  successive  plasterings,  one  over  the 
other,  indicated  by  the  alternate  layers  of  soot  and  plaster  in 
cross  section.  The  living  rooms  are  also  provided  with  smooth 
cement  floors,  strewn  with  rushes  and  corn  husks,  upon  which 
the  ancient  farmer  slept  and  lounged,  with  his  family  huddled 
about  him. 

Other  features  of  the  living  rooms  are  the  ever-present  fire- 


DISCOVERIES    ON    THE    COLORADO 


165 


pots  and  mealing  bins,  or  matatas.  The  fire-pot  is  a  rock-lined 
hole  six  or  eight  inches  deep,  sunken  in  the  floor ;  sometimes,  in 
the  middle  of  the  flooi  ,  often  in  a  corner,  but  most  frequently 
near  the  front  side  wall.  These  fire-pots  were  evidently  used  for 
warming  the  room  in  winter,  since  the  cooking  seems  to  have 
been  done  in  the  courtyards.  The  matatas  and  mano  stones  al- 
ways found  in  living  rooms  show  that  each  family  had  its  own 
grist  mill.  The  grinding  of  the  meal  was  accomplished  by  crush- 
ing the  corn  and  other  seeds  between  the  mano  and  the  slanting 
rock  bottom  of  the  matata  (mealing  bin).  This  was  done  by 
grasping  the  mano  stone  in  the  hands  and  rubbing  it  on  the  grain 
in  the  matata. 

The  meal  was  made  into  small  rolls  and  baked,  probably  on 
heated  rocks.  The  Utah  expedition  found  several  good  samples 
of  these  ancient  bread  rolls.     Its  centuries  of  age  and  the  uncer- 


Photo  by  Rynearson,  Utah  Arch.  Expd. 
STORAGE  ROOMS  IN  WHICH  CLIFF  DWELLERS  STORED  FOOD  SUPPLIES 

tainty  of  its  culinary  purity  prevented  this  prehistoric  "Johnnie- 
cake"  from  appealing  strongly  to  the  appetites  of  the  Utah  ex- 
plorers. Often  a  large  olla  (storage  jar)  is  found  buried  beneath 
the  floor  of  the  living  room.  One  of  these,  found  by  Professor 
Cummings,  in  the  Bat  Woman  cliff  dwelling,  contained  more 
than  a  bushel  of  shelled  corn  mixed  with  beans  and  squash  seed, 
with  a  few  large  ears  of  corn  on  the  cob,  in  the  top  of  the  vessel. 
All  was  very  well  preserved. 

The  store  rooms  seem  to  have  been  built  with  a  view  to 
protection  of  the  contents  from  rats,  mice,  and  any  kind  of  vermin. 
The  floors  are  often  of  the  solid  cliff  rock;  the  walls  of  tight 


166 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


m 

> 

- 

/        i      jl 

s 

BBsbr 

^^ 

i 

IV-flK 

S  ■,     M  ^ 

V  > 

H^^^-1 

' 

"^^^^3H    PS 

IB^yjHH      HI. .  ■  - « 

Photo  by  Harper,  Utah  Arch.  Expd. 
HIEROGLYPHICS  OF  THE  CLIFF  DWELLERS 

masonry,  and  the  openings  fitted  closely  with  doors  made  of  slabs 
of  stone.  In  these  rooms  the  ancient  American  stored  his  winter 
supply  of  foods. 

The  towers  were  built  round  and  to  a  considerable  height. 
They  seem  to  be  watch  towers  from  the  top  of  which  prehistoric 
minute-men  may  have  kept  watch,  guarding  the  community 
against  sudden  attack. 

In  several  cliff  dwellings,  the  Utah  expedition  found  rooms 
that  seemed  to  have  been  artists'  studios.  Paint  brushes,  painting 
combs,  pigments,  bowls  containing  vari-colored  paints — all  be- 
spoke the  "den"  of  the  primitive  artist. 

In  rare  cases,  rooms  have  been  devoted  to  burials  of  persons 
of  unusual  rank.  In  such  cases  the  whole  room  is  usually  devoted 
to  a  single  burial.  The  body  is  carefully  embalmed  and  wrapped 
with  numerous  layers  of  robing,  matting  and  wicker-work.  Such 
a  potentate  frequently  has  a  wealth  of  personal  belongings  buried 
with  him.  A  room,  containing  a  mummied  dignitary,  found 
last  summer  by  the  Utah  expedition,  was  almost  completely  filled 
with  the  dead  man's  property,  consisting  of  ornaments  of  rare 
stones,  mats  or  shields,  basket-ware,  pottery ;  numerous  manu- 
facturing and  agricultural  tools  and  implements ;  stone  images 
of  animals ;  quantities  of  corn,  beans,  squash  seeds,  grass  seeds ; 
materials  for  kindling  fire,  and  a  great  variety  of  miscellaneous 
articles. 


DISCOVERIES    ON    THE    COLORADO  167 

Ordinarily  the  dead  were  buried  in  refuse  heaps,  near  the 
dwellings,  or  in  sand  mounds,  in  the  canyons  below.  The  custom 
of  burying  the  personal  property  of  the  deceased  with  him  seems 
to  have  been  general. 

The  bodies  thus  far  found  indicate  that  the  Cliff  Dwellers 
were  of  small  stature,  with  black  hair.  The  skulls  are  well 
shaped  with  the  occipital  bones  somewhat  flattened,  probably  arti- 
ficially. The  lower  jawbones  are  heavy,  and  both  jaws  fitted 
with  good,  strong  teeth.  The  houses  also  indicate  a  race  under- 
sized. The  rooms  are  small,  with  roof  timbers  rarely  more  than 
six  feet  above  the  floor.  Almost  invariably  the  doorways  are  too 
small  to  readily  admit  a  large  body. 

That  these  vanished  people  occupied  a  high  place  in  the 
scale  of  civilization  of  their  time  is  everywhere  evidenced.  Their 
architecture,  their  textile  fabrics,  their  manufactured  wares — all 
the  products  of  their  handicraft,  teach  us  lessons  of  industry  and 
perseverance.  Their  political,  social  and  religious  life  far  tran- 
scends that  of  any  of  the  modern  native  races.  But  there  is  still 
much  that  is  unknown  concerning  the  rise  and  fall  of  the  Cliff 
Dwellers. 

(The  next  article  of  this  series  will  deal  with  the  arts  and  indus- 
tries of  the  Cliff  Dwellers.) 


-           -       •    l-;mi: 

4  '- 

>&  m                    J:::;:     ^    ;^ 

jL  tci 

■  ^  -Irak 

K  •"■*■>■ 

f 

rT    ■     If  M 

* 

;    f 

'     '  1                           '  '■ 

T.  Henry  Moray,  writing  from  Gefle,  Sweden,  June  6:  "We  have 
six  branches  here  in  the  Sundsvall  Conference,  the  land  where  we  have 
twenty-four  hours  of  daylight,  at  this  time  of  year.  In  most  of  the 
branches  we  have  Sunday  School,  M.  I.  A.  and  Relief  Society  organi- 
zations. The  elders  and  Saints  enjoy  the  work  very  much.  Our  pros- 
pects are  bright  for  new  members  of  the  Church.  Elders  left  to  right, 
back  row:  J.  A.  Schelin,  T.  H.  Moray,  P.  G.  Fernelius,  W.  E.  Malm- 
strom,  A.  C.  Sanders,  Gustave  Anderson,  C.  W.  Johnson;  sitting:  J.  H. 
Holmquist,  Conference  President,  Mathias  Enckson,  E.  W.  Olson, 
Mission  President  A.  Theo.  Johnson,  C.  A.  Monson." 


Editors'  Table 


Greeting  from  the  First  Presidency 

At  the  approach  of  another  holiday  season,  and  the  close  of 
another  year,  we  greet  and  congratulate  the  quorums  of  the  priest- 
hood, with  the  missionaries  and  the  various  auxiliary  societies, 
particularly  the  Mutual  Improvement  Associations,  the  Church 
Schools,  and  all  the  officers  and  members  of  the  Church,  not  for- 
getting the  readers  of  the  Improvement  Era,  on  the  progress 
made,  and  the  good  feeling  prevailing. 

It  is  with  thankful  hearts  and  praises  to  our  Heavenly  Father, 
that  we  contemplate  the  growth  of  the  Church  during  the  past 
year.  It  has  been  highly  satisfactory,  both  spiritually  and  tem- 
porally, both  at  home  and  abroad.  In  the  various  stakes  and 
wards,  the  people  have  been  diligent  in  building  houses  of  wor- 
ship, and  there  is  a  perceptible  advancement  in  every  department 
of  our  work.  The  officers  in  charge  have  fulfiled  their  mission 
of  love  in  a  manner  gratifying  to  the  presiding  authorities, 
and,  we  believe,  acceptable  to  the  Lord.  In  season  and  out  of 
season,  they  have  worked  with  the  old  and  the  young  to  better 
the  religious,  physical  and  moral  condition  of  the  people.  The 
Lord  has  blessed  and  prospered  them,  not  only  in  spiritual  things, 
but  in  temporal  matters  as  well. 

MISSION  WORK. 

In  the  foreign  mission  fields,  a  force  of  nearly  two  thousand 
elders  have  labored  diligently,  during  the  year,  to  fulfil  the  great 
and  important  duty  resting  upon  the  Latter-day  Saints — "Go  ye 
into  all  the  world  and  preach  the  gospel."  They  have  thoroughly 
realized  that  God  has  given  us  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  in  its 
purity,  and  that  we  owe  it  to  our  fellow-men  to  make  known  the 
glorious  message  to  mankind.  They  have  gone  out  willingly  and 
with  a  determination  to  perform  this  duty.  Some  ministers 
declare  that  we  do  not  send  our  missionaries  to  the  Pagans.  We 
are  not  yet  a  very  numerous  people,  and  have  not  the  means  to 
pay  missionaries,  as  most  sectarian  societies  do,  even  if  that  were 
the  better  way.  Our  elders  depend  upon  the  Lord  and  not  upon 
the  dollar,  and  so  they  go  to  the  world  believing  in  and  dependino- 
upon  God,  and  his  Son  Jesus,  the  Redeemer.  But  they  do  not 
preach  to  the  Christian  nations  alone;  they  are  also  to  be  found 
among  the  Pagans,  though  we  have  not  yet  as  many  among  them 
as  we  hope  to  have,  for  this  gospel  is  unto  every  creature.     A 


EDITORS'  TABLE  169 

number  of  our  missionaries  are  working  in  Japan.  There  is  a 
branch  of  the  Church  in  Hindustan,  with  a  few  Saints.  We  have 
also  Saints  in  Syria,  among  the  Mohammedans,  and  the  work  will 
doubtless  further  spread  and  grow.  During  the  year,  in  England 
and  Scandinavia,  our  elders  have  found  considerable  opposition, 
owing  to  a  misapprehension  of  the  nature  of  our  work,  but  it  has 
not  hindered  its  progress.  Where  denied  the  use  of  halls  to  hold 
meetings  in,  we  have  built  chapels  and  meetinghouses  of  our  own, 
and  we  hope  there  will  be  a  broad  and  Christian  spirit  sufficient 
to  enable  us  to  occupy  them  in  peace.  We  invite  all  people  to 
come  and  worship  with  us,  and  hear  the  message  we  have  to  bear 
to  the  world.  In  the  South  Sea  Islands,  also,  among  the  Maoris 
and  the  Samoans,  we  have  established  schools  for  the  people,  in 
which  are  taught  the  common  branches  of  education,  and  the 
doctrines  of  the  Church.  For  the  natives,  in  New  Zealand,  we 
have  a  high  school  where  not  only  the  gospel  is  taught,  but  also 
the  general  principles  of  education,  and  training  in  practical 
things,  including  manual  labor,  husbandry,  and  agriculture.  This 
school  has  already  achieved  notable  success.  We  rejoice  in  the 
work  that  is  being  done,  and  approve  the  zealous  labors  the  elders 
are  performing.  The  presidents  of  the  twenty-one  different  mis- 
sions are  men  of  God,  and  they  are  commended  for  their  untiring 
labors  in  conducting  the  missions,  training  the  elders,  and  pro- 
mulgating the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ. 

PRIESTHOOD  QUORUMS 

The  General  Priesthood  committee  has  provided  and  will  con- 
tinue to  supply  the  priesthood  quorums  throughout  the  Church 
with  the  necessary  text-books  for  the  study  of  the  gospel,  and  for 
familiarizing  them  with  their  duties  in  priesthood  and  quorum  ca- 
pacity. Commendable  efforts  are  being  made  to  unite  the  quorums 
in  fraternal  strength  and  love.  The  growth  of  the  quorum  ac- 
tivities during  the  last  five  years  is  a  cause  for  gratitude.  The 
practical  work  performed,  and  the  educational  information  dis- 
seminated by  them,  have  tended  greatly  to  the  building  up  of 
Zion,  and  to  the  edification  of  her  people.  Efforts  are  being  made 
to  enroll  all  members  of  the  priesthood  in  the  various  quorums 
to  which  they  belong.    This  work  should  be  zealously  encouraged. 

There  is  a  praiseworthy  advancement  among  the  Priests  of 
the  Church.  At  present,  in  five  hundred  wards  in  the  Church, 
there  are  priests'  quorums,  or  classes,  each  presided  over  by  a 
bishop,  and  arrangements  are  making  for  an  organization  of  such 
a  quorum  or  class  in  every  ward  of  the  Church.  The  bishops  are 
gathering  the  young  brethren  around  them,  and  taking  a  fatherly 
interest  in  their  welfare,  thus  teaching  the  young  men  the  com- 
mandments of  the  Lord  and  their  daily  duties,  by  precept  and 


170  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

example.  Another  very  important  activity  in  the  priesthood  work 
is  ward  teaching.  This  work,  in  many  places,  has  been  seriously 
neglected,  and  we  are  delighted  to  learn  that  the  spirit  of  teaching 
has  been  awakened  generally.  An  effort  is  being  made  in  many 
of  the  stakes  of  Zion  to  have  all  the  families  of  the  Church  visited 
regularly  every  month  by  teachers,  and  all  the  officers  are  being 
enlisted  in  this  very  commendable  work,  which  is  worthy  of  the 
best  efforts  of  our  brightest  men.  Not  only  the  priests,  teachers, 
but  elders,  high  priests,  and  seventies,  should  be  encouraged  to 
do  their  part  in  this  great  labor.  We  trust  that  in  addition  to  the 
consideration  of  the  studies  provided  for  the  coming  year,  the 
practical  work  of  the  priesthood  will  not  be  neglected.  It  is  nec- 
essary that  every  officer  shall  magnify  his  calling,  and  that  the 
teachers  visit  the  people  in  their  homes,  to  teach  them  the  word 
of  God.  The  authorities  throughout  the  Church  should  come  close 
to  the  members,  and  particularly  to  the  youth,  to  lead  them  in  light 
and  truth  in  spiritual  affairs,  and  to  that  conduct  in  temporal  and 
social  affairs  that  should  characterize  Latter-day  Saints. 

MOVEMENTS  IN  THE  M.  I.  A. 

In  the  Mutual  Improvement  Associations  of  the  young  men 
and  the  young  ladies,  praiseworthy  activity  has  been  shown  in  the 
past  year.  There  appears  to  be  a  new  awakening  among  the 
young  people,  and  the  officers  of  these  organizations  are  cer- 
tainly to  be  congratulated  upon  the  interest  they  have  aroused. 
The  boys  are  sought  after,  and  new  methods  have  been  adopted 
to  interest  them  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  and  in  all  that  pertains 
to  good  citizenship  in  Church  and  state.  The  processes  by  which 
this  is  being  accomplished  are  presented  in  detail  from  time  to 
time  by  the  officers,  throughout  the  stakes  and  wards,  who  are 
instructed  by  the  general  board  concerning  this  important  work. 
The  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.  offers  splendid  opportunity  in  class  study,  de- 
bating, musical  exercises,  oratory  and  public  speaking,  story- 
telling, scout  organizations  and  athletic  exercises,  dramatic  and 
literary  entertainments,  and  dancing,  all  of  whicti  are  presented 
with  a  view  to  winning  and  uplifting  the  boys.  A  force  of  some 
3,500  officers,  young  men,  devote  some  of  their  spare  time  and 
efforts  in  teaching  the  youth  in  these  activities.  We  express  our 
gratitude  and  thanks  to  them.  This  home  work  has  its  reward 
as  great  as  the  reward  that  comes  to  those  who  go  out  into 
the  world  to  preach  the  gospel.  In  fact,  there  is  a  quicker  and 
mere  satisfactory  return  for  the  labor  expended  with  our  own 
boys,  our  own  flesh  and  blood,  in  holding  them  in  the  line  of  duty, 
and  interesting  them  in  their  own  development  and  welfare,  than 
in  any  other  work  that  a  missionary  can  engage  in.  We  trust  that 
this  will  soon  become  a  sphere  for  greater  effort  than  at  present, 


EDITORS'  TABLE  171 

a  field  where  our  college  graduates,  educators,  and  men  of  spe- 
cial talent  in  the  various  activities  of  the  associations  may  take 
part  in  the  blessing  and  advancement  of  the  young  men  of  Zion. 
The  age  of  eligibility  for  membership  in  the  Young  Men's  Mutual 
Improvement  Associations  has  recently  been  changed  from  14 
years  up,  to  12.  It  has  been  found  difficult  to  enlist  the  interest 
of  the  boys  from  12  to  14  in  the  Primary  Associations,  owing  to 
ordinations  to  the  priesthood  at  the  age  of  12,  and  also  to  the 
fact  that  they  are  admitted  into  the  M.  I.  A.  Scout  organization 
at  that  age.  Therefore,  it  has  been  thought  wise  to  include  these 
boys  in  the  regular  ranks  of  the  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.  The  necessary 
outlines  for  their  class  exercises,  and  for  their  entertainment  in  the 
various  activities,  will  be  provided  by  the  general  board. 

In  the  Young  Ladies'  Mutual  Improvement  Associations, 
commendable  work  is  being  done  in  every  line  which  they  have 
undertaken,  and  their  officers,  from  the  general  board  to  the  active 
teachers  in  the  classes  throughout  the  Church,  are  to  be  praised 
for  their  diligence  in  teaching  the  young  ladies,  not  only  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  gospel,  and  social  and  literary  knowledge,  but  for 
training  them  in  practical  work  in  sewing  and  domestic  science. 
What  is  said  in  praise  of  the  officers  of  these  organizations  may 
with  equal  emphasis  be  said  of  those  of  the  great  Sunday  School 
Union,  the  Primaries,  the  Religion  Class,  and  the  Relief  Society. 

THE   CHURCH   SCHOOLS. 

Supplementing  the  labors  of  these  organizations,  or  perhaps 
standing  at  their  head,  for  the  more  favored  students,  are  the 
Church  schools.  The  people  are  urged  to  patronize  them.  They 
are  organized  to  teach  the  principles  of  the  gospel,  as  well  as  to 
impart  a  thorough  general  education.  A  great  amount  of  good 
is  thus  being  accomplished,  which  is  making  itself  felt  among  the 
youth  throughout  the  Church.  Students  of  these  schools  are 
a  wonderful  help  to  the  auxiliary  associations  as  teachers,  and 
are  aiding  all  the  organizations  of  the  Church  by  their  superior 
ability.  Others  who  are  not  so  engaged,  should  be  induced  to  assist 
in  this  work,  for  men  and  women  willing  and  able  to  instruct  the 
youth  in  the  very  best  methods  of  learning,  and  the  right  ways  of 
living,  are  needed,  and  they  will  in  nowise  lose  their  reward. 

Taking  a  broad  view  of  the  situation  of  the  Latter-day 
Saints  in  general,  we  see  everything  to  encourage  us,  and  our 
gratitude  goes  out  to  our  Father  in  heaven  for  the  many  blessings, 
of  every  kind,  he  has  granted  unto  the  Saints.  We  believe  that 
most  of  them  appreciate  these  favors,  and  their  gratitude  will 
doubtless  be  manifested  in  their  obedience  and  devotion,  and  in 
their  active  support  of  the  Church,  and  of  all  these  organizations 
and  activities. 


172  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

With  earnest  wishes  for  the  continued  welfare  and  happiness 
of  Israel,  and  of  those  who  love  the  truth,  and  wishing  all  a 
Merry  Christmas  and  a  Happy  New  Year,  we  remain, 

Your  brethren, 

Joseph  F.  Smith, 
Anthon  H.  Lund, 
Charles  W.  Penrose, 
First  Presidency  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ 
of  Latter-day  Saints. 


A  Greeting  to  the  Missionaries 


Beloved  Brethren:  One  of  the  distinguishing  features  of  the 
Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints  is  its  missionary  sys- 
tem. In  proportion  to  numbers,  no  other  church  or  sect  in  the 
world  today  approaches  ours  in  the  extent  and  scope  of  its  mis- 
sionary service,  nor  in  the  sense  of  importance  with  which  that 
labor  is  regarded  by  the  members  in  general. 

To  you  who  have  left  home  and  dear  ones ;  to  you  who  have 
relinquished,  for  a  period,  your  material  affairs ;  to  you  who  have 
promptly  and  willingly  responded  to  the  call  to  go  forth  into  the 
world  as  duly  accredited  preachers  and  teachers  of  the  Gospel  of 
Christ,  without  hope  of  pecuniary  or  other  reward  in  things  of 
earth — I  write  this  brief  greeting  as  one  who  loves  you  for  the 
sacrifice  you  have  made,  for  the  zeal  and  integrity  you  exhibit, 
and  for  the  splendid  results  accruing  through  your  unselfish  devo- 
tion. I  write  as  one  called  and  ordained  to  life-service  in  the  same 
ministry  in  which  you  labor. 

One  of  the  many  good  gifts  with  which  our  Father  requites 
the  labors  of  his  faithful  children  is  the  blessed  boon  of  happi- 
ness. I  know  of  none  more  truly  happy  than  the  active  mission- 
ary, upon  whom  rests  in  full  measure  the  spirit  of  his  Divine  com- 
mission. To  him,  no  duty,  no  requirement,  no  phase  of  his  labor 
is  irksome  or  unwelcome.  I  commend  to  you  for  study  and  prac- 
tice a  lesson  which  I  doubt  not  you  have  already  learned  in  part 
through  demonstration  and  test  in  the  laboratory  of  experience, 
but  which  I  would  have  you  master  thoroughly — the  lesson  that 
tells  of  the  vital  distinction  between  pleasure  and  happiness. 

The  present  is  an  age  of  pleasure-seeking,  and  men  are  los- 
ing their  sanity  in  the  mad  rush  for  sensations  that  do  but  excite 
and  disappoint.  In  this  day  of  counterfeits,  adulterations,  and 
base  imitations,  the  devil  is  busier  than  he  has  ever  been  in  the 
course  of  human  history,  in  the  manufacture  of  pleasures,  both 
old  and  new ;  and  these  he  offers  for  sale  in  most  attractive 
fashion,    falsely    labeled,    "Happiness."     In  this  soul-destroying 


EDITORS'"  TABLE  173 

craft  he  is  without  a  peer ;  he  has  had  centuries  of  experience  and 
practice,  and  by  his  skill  he  controls  the  market.  He  has  learned 
the  tricks  of  the  trade,  and  knows  well  how  to  catch  the  eye  and 
arouse  the  desire  of  his  customers.  He  puts  up  the  stuff  in  bright- 
colored  packages,  tied  with  tinsel  string  and  tassel ;  and  crowds 
flock  to  his  bargain  counters,  hustling  and  crushing  one  another 
in  their  frenzy  to  buy. 

Follow  one  of  the  purchasers  as  he  goes  off  gloatingly  with 
his  gaudy  packet,  and  watch  him  as  he  opens  it.  What  finds  he 
inside  the  gilded  wrapping?  He  had  expected  fragrant  happiness, 
but  uncovers  only  an  inferior  brand  of  pleasure,  the  stench  of 
which  is  nauseating. 

Happiness  includes  all  that  is  really  desirable  and  of  true 
worth  in  pleasure,  and  much  beside.  Happiness  is  genuine  gold, 
pleasure  but  gilded  brass,  which  corrodes  in  the  hand,  and  is  soon 
converted  into  poisonous  verdigris.  Happiness  is  as  the  genuine 
diamond,  which,  rough  or  polished,  shines  with  its  own  inimitable 
luster ;  pleasure  is  as  the  paste  imitation  that  glows  only  when 
artificially  embellished.  Happiness  is  as  the  ruby,  red  as  the  heart's 
blood,  hard  and  enduring ;  pleasure,  as  stained  glass,  soft,  brittle, 
and  of  but  transitory  beauty. 

Happiness  is  true  food,  wholesome,  nutritious  and  sweet;  it 
builds  up  the  body  and  generates  energy  for  action,  physical,  men- 
tal and  spiritual ;  pleasure  is  but  a  deceiving  stimulant  which,  like 
spirituous  drink,  makes  one  think  he  is  strong  when  in  reality  en- 
feebled ;  makes  him  fancy  he  is  well  when  in  fact  stricken  with 
deadly  malady. 

Happiness  leaves  no  bad  after-taste,  it  is  followed  by  no  de- 
pressing reaction ;  it  calls  for  no  repentance,  brings  no  regret,  en- 
tails no  remorse ;  pleasure  too  often  makes  necessary  repentance, 
contrition,  and  suffering;  and,  if  indulged  to  the  extreme,  it  brings 
degradation  and  destruction. 

True  happiness  is  lived  over  and  over  again  in  memory,  al- 
ways with  a  renewal  of  the  original  good;  a  moment  of  unholy 
pleasure  may  leave  a  barbed  sting,  which,  like  a  thorn  in  the  flesh, 
is  an  ever-present  source  of  anguish. 

Happiness  is  not  akin  with  levity,  nor  is  it  one  with  light- 
minded  mirth.  It  springs  from  the  deeper  fountains  of  the  soul, 
and  is  not  infrequently  accompanied  by  tears.  Have  you  never 
been  so  happy  that  you  have  had  to  weep  ?    I  have. 

Recently,  I  witnessed  an  instance  of  tearful  happiness,  and  I 
shall  not  soon  forget  the  experience.  I  had  been  engaged  with  my 
brethren  in  setting  apart  missionaries,  who  were  about  to  leave 
for  their  several  fields  of  labor.  We  had  laid  our  hands  upon 
their  heads,  one  by  one,  and  had  invoked  Divine  blessing  upon 
them  and  their  work.  You  know  the  solemn  procedure,  for  each 
of  you  has  been  so  blessed  and  set  apart.  After  the  missionary 


174  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

assembly  had  closed — there  in  the  Annex  to  the  House  of  the 
Lord — my  attention  was  attracted  to  a  woman,  one  who  had  long 
passed  the  noon-tide  of  her  life,  standing  with  her  arms  about 
the  neck  of  her  manly  son ;  her  head  rested  upon  his  shoulder, 
and  she  was  sobbing  with  strong  emotion.  He  stood  tenderly 
supporting  her  with  his  strong  right  arm,  while  his  tears  fell  upon 
her  whitening  hair.  I  ventured  to  approach ;  and  she,  becoming 
aware  of  my  presence,  looked  into  my  face  through  the  mist  of 
tears,  and  smilingly  said,  "He  is  my  boy,  you  see ;  my  only  son ; 
and  he  is  going  far  away,  across  the  great  ocean."  I  asked,  "Don't 
you  want  him  to  go?"  "Want,  him  to  go?"  she  repeated,  with 
beaming  countenance ;  "oh,  yes !  yes !  I  am  so  thankful  to  have 
a  son  worthy  to  go  out  into  the  world  as  a  missionary  of  the  gos- 
pel, that  I  can't  help  crying,  you  know."  Then,  after  a  pause 
which  to  me  was  profoundly  affecting,  she  added,  "His  father 
filled  an  honorable  mission,  and  has  since  died ;  now  our  son  goes 
to  continue  his  father's  good  work,  thank  God !"  And  the  thought 
of  it  all  filled  that  widowed  heart  with  such  over-powering  hap- 
piness that  she  could  but  weep  and  sob. 

And  now,  let  me  tell  you  of  another  scene  which  I  witnessed 
soon  after  the  incident  just  described.  Again  I  saw  a  loving 
mother  with  her  arms  about  the  neck  of  her  son.  She,  too,  was 
shaken  with  sobs,  and  the  flood-gates  of  his  tears  were  open.  To 
my  look  of  inquiry  she  replied  with  an  explanation :  "He  is  my 
son,  and  has  just  returned  from  his  mission  after  nearly  three 
year's  absence.  Oh,  I  am  so  happy,  I  just  have  to  cry."  The 
glad  father,  who  stood  by,  wept  in  unison  with  his  wife  and  son. 
The  young  man  soon  suppressed  his  emotion  and  answered  my 
questions  with  proud  humility  and  soulful  gratitude  in  his  face. 
His  record  in  the  mission  field  was  good ;  his  release  was  an  hon- 
orable one.  And  as  I  looked  upon  the  reunited  family,  I  said  in 
my  heart — this  is  happiness,  indeed ;  while,  through  the  inner 
chambers  of  my  soul,  there  echoed  a  holy  refrain,  "Well  done, 
good  and  faithful  servant ;  happiness  is  thy  reward." 

Beloved  brethren,  may  hapiness  be  your  portion,  and  success 
in  the  saving  of  souls  your  eternal  glory. 

James  E.  Talmage. 


Why  Pay  Tithing? 


BECAUSE  IT  IS  A   LAW  OF  GOD 


The  Lord  revealed  the  law  to  Abraham  and  Jacob,  empha- 
sized it  to  Israel  through  Malachi,  and  reiterated  it  during  the 
personal  ministry  of  our  Savior.     The  law  has  been  restored  to 


EDITORS'  TABLE  175 

us  in  a  very  emphatic  revelation  to  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith. 
The  Lord  has  said  to  his  Church  in  this  dispensation: 

Verily,  thus  saith  the  Lord,  I  require  all  their  surplus  property 
to  be  put  into  the  hands  of  the  bishop  of  my  church  of  Zion, 

For  the  building  of  mine  house,  and  for  the  laying  of  the  founda- 
tion of  Zion  and  for  the  Priesthood,  and  for  the  debts  of  the  Presi- 
dency of  my  church; 

And  this  shall  be  the  beginning  of  the  tithing  of  my  people; 

And  after  that,  those  who  have  thus  been  tithed,  shall  pay  one- 
tenth  of  all  their  interest  annually;  and  this  shall  be  a  standing  law 
unto  them  forever,  for  my  holy  priesthood,  saith  the  Lord. 

Verily  I  say  unto  you,  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  all  those  who 
gather  unto  the  land  of  Zion  shall  be  tithed  of  their  surplus  properties, 
and  shall  observe  this  law,  or  they  shall  not  be  found  worthy  to  abide 
among  you. 

And  I  say  unto  you,  if  my  people  observe  not  this  law,  to  keep 
it  holy,  and  by  this  law  sanctify  the  land  of  Zion  unto  me,  that  my 
statutes  and  my  judgments  may  be  kept  thereon,  that  it  may  be  most 
holy,  behold,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  it  shall  not  be  a  land  of  Zion 
unto  you; 

And  this  shall  be  an  ensample  unto'  all  the  Stakes  of  Zion.  Even 
so.     Amen. 

The  word  of  the  Lord  is  very  plain.  The  law  is  clearly  set 
forth.  The  blessings  to  be  obtained  for  obedience  are  stated,  and 
the  penalties  for  disregarding  it  are  made  known. 

The  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  teaches  that  the  Lord  does  not 
command  of  his  children  things  which  they  are  not  able  to  do. 
Tf  we  have  faith  in  him,  therefore,  obedience  to  this  law  is  im- 
perative. Not  one  among  us  is  too  poor  to  observe  the  payment 
of  tithing,  and  not  one  is  rich  enough  to  afford  to  neglect  it.  The 
poor  need  the  temporal  and  spiritual  blessings  predicated  upon 
obedience,  and  the  rich  are  poor,  indeed,  if  they  are  not  in  pos- 
session of  the  blessings  of  heaven,  for  "What  shall  it  profit  a  man 
if  he  gain  the  whole  world  and  lose  his  soul?" 

BECAUSE  IT  CALLS  FORTH  THE  BLESSING  OF  HEAVEN 

The  Lord  has  said,  speaking  of  this  principle,  "Prove  me 
herewith."  Those  who  have  honestly  obeyed  the  law,  with  pure 
motives,  have  learned  by  happy  experience  that  his  promises 
never  fail.  The  blessings  to  be  received  are  both  temporal  and 
spiritual.     Among  the  temporal  are  these : 

This  .shall  be  a  land  of  Zion  unto  those  who  obey  the  law. 


176  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

The  devourer  shall  be  rebuked,  and  the  land  blessed  for  their  sakes. 
They  shall  enjoy  their  substance  in  contentment  and  peace. 
Their  children  shall  not  beg  in  the  streets  of  Zion  for  bread. 

The  spiritual  blessings,  however,  are  the  greatest.  Tithe- 
payers  shall  receive  blessings  more  than  they  can  contain.  Who 
among  the  Latter-day  Saints  has  not  seen  this  promise  verily  ful- 
filed?  Go  into  the  presence  of  one  who  is  living  the  gospel,  includ- 
ing the  law  of  tithing,  and  you  will  observe  that  the  Spirit  of  the 
Lord  that  fills  his  heart  cannot  be  contained  by  him,  but  it  flows 
forth  to  bless  those  with  whom  he  associates. 

BECAUSE  IT  INCREASES  FAITH 

Faith  is  the  basis  of  spiritual  power,  and  the  very  foundation 
of  our  hope  of  salvation.  Without  faith,  which  "is  the  moving 
cause  of  all  action,"  there  can  be  no  salvation,  and  the  degree  of 
salvation  that  each  one  shall  receive,  will  depend  upon  the  measure 
of  faith  that  he  possesses.  Any  principle  that  will  increase  faith 
is,  therefore,  of  great  value. 

A  thoughtful  American  writer  has  said  that  the  only  faith 
that  wears  well,  and  holds  its  color  in  all  weathers,  is  that  which 
is  woven  into  conviction  and  set  with  the  sharp  mordant  of  ex- 
perience. Jesus  stated  the  striking  truth  that  those  who  may 
know  of  the  doctrine  are  those  who  do  the  will  of  the  Father. 
The  righteous,  who  shall  finally  live  by  that  high,  divine  faith  that 
Christ  possesses,  are  those  who,  by  keeping  the  divine  command- 
ments, have  gone  from  faith  to  faith. 

The  blessings  experienced  by  the  tithepayer  weave  his  faith 
into  a  conviction  that  will  hold  its  color  in  all  weathers.  His 
faith  will  increase  until  he  shall  know  of  the,  doctrine,  and  know- 
ing, he  will  be  enabled  to  lay  a  foundation  on  which  he  can  build 
until,  finally,  with  the  just  in  Christ,  he  will  live  by  faith. 

BECAUSE  IT  UNFOLDS  OTHER  ATTRIBUTES  OF  THE  ETERNAL  SPIRIT 

THE  EGO THE  REAL  I  AM 

The  salvation  vouchsafed  to  him  who  obeys  the  gospel,  a 
necessary  law  of  which  is  tithing,  will  fill  the  soul  with  high  and 
exalted  aspirations,  and  inspire  him  to  climb  to  greather  heights, 
both  here  and  hereafter,  than  he  would  otherwise  attain.  The  act 
of  obeying  these  high  impulses  will  call  forward  a  high  sense  of 
moral  courage  and  will  compel  him  to  despise  cowardice  in  every 
form.     He  will  become  a  defender  of  virtue  and  truth  and  honor.. 

Doubt  will  be  vanquished,  and  in  the  storms  of  life,  whether 
outward  or  inward,  he  will  feel  a  calm  assurance  that  his  life  has 
been  in  harmony  with  the  Infinite,  as  far  as  he  was  able  to  make 
it  so,  and  therefore,  "all  is  wehV* 


EDITORS'  TABLE  177 

Love — the  greatest  virtue — will  be  broadened  and  deepened. 
When  one  pays  tithing  he  is  contributing  to  humanity ;  for,  after 
all,  tithing  is  merely  part  of  the  material  means  necessary  to  teach- 
ing the  gospel  to  the  world.  But  when  one  does  his  share  in  the 
manner  provided  by  the  Lord,  it  leaves  no  room  for  selfishness 
or  egotism.  Too  often  men  contribute  their  means  to  gratify 
selfish  instincts — their  vanity,  avariciousness  or  pride.  Such 
gifts  have  a  tendency  to  impoverish,  rather  than  enrich  the  soul. 
Tithing  is  paid  in  the  spirit  of  not  letting  the  left  hand  know  what 
the  right  hand  doeth.  And  yet  we  are  conscious  that  it  will  bless 
the  world;  and  because  we  are  thus  serving  the  world,  our  love 
increases. 

"The  Lord  loveth  a  cheerful  giver."  Tithing  is  a  free  will 
offering,  and  is  cheerfully  paid.  The  act  of  meeting  the  obliga- 
tion develops  the  quality  that  God  loves. 

The  law  of  tithing  may  be  made  a  potent  factor  in  develop- 
ing some  of  the  nobler  attributes  of  the  soul,  and  a  Christ-like 
soul  is  its  own  triumphant  reward  and  blessing. 

BECAUSE  IT  IS  A  GREAT  PRIVILEGE  TO  HELP  SUPPORT  THE  INSTITU- 
TIONS OF  THE  CHURCH   WITH  A  PART  OF  OUR  MEANS 

The  power  of  the  Church  for  good  shall  increase  in  the  midst  of 
the  earth.  Her  light  shall  shine  unto  all  the  world.  All  nations  will 
call  her  blessed,  for  because  of  her  all  nations  shall  be  blessed. 

The  tithepayer  demonstrates  that  he  holds  these  things  not 
merely  as  a  passive  belief,  but  as  a  proposition  in  which  he  has  a 
living,  active  faith. 

All  institutions  that  have  to  do  with  material  things  need 
material  support.  The  work  of  no  great  institution  can  be  car- 
ried on  without  means.  This  is  a  proposition  that  will  appeal  to 
every  thinking  individual.  In  this  great  work  of  redemption,  the 
Lord  has  not  only  granted  us  the  privilege  of  giving  this  support, 
from  a  part  of  the  means  over  which  he  has  given  us  stewardship, 
but  he  has  made  it  imperative  that  we  take  a  part  of  the  substance 
entrusted  to  us  to  carry  on  his  work. 

Many  of  the  greatest  spiritual  blessings  are  dependent  to  a 
great  extent  on  material  things  for  their  realization.  In  fact,  all 
through  the  creations  of  our  Father,  the  material  and  spiritual 
are  closely  associated.  Take  for  example  our  temple  work  that 
is  so  full  of  spiritual  blessings.  It  is  necessary  to  have  suitable 
buildings  in  which  the  sacred  ordinances  can  be  performed.  Then, 
these  buildings  must  be  properly  furnished,  heated,  lighted  and 
cared  for.  The  spiritual  work  done  in  our  temples  is  of  the 
greatest  importance  to  the  race,  because  it  effects  the  redemption 
of  the  living  and  the  dead.  This  work  is  made  possible  only 
because  of  the  tithes  of  the  people,  and  no  man  can  place  himself 


178  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

in  a  position  to  receive  all  these  blessings  unless  he  meets  this 
obligation  towards  the  Lord. 

In  a  similar  manner,  the  stake  and  ward  houses,  in  which  the 
Sacrament  is  administered  on  the  Sabbath,  and  so  many  other 
spiritual  feasts  enjoyed,  must  be  maintained. 

Our  splendid  schools,  a  system  that  does  so  much  towards 
developing  the  nobler  qualities — both  mental  and  spiritual — of 
our  boys  .and  girls,  must  be  housed  in  convenient  buildings  and 
be  provided  with  competent  instructors. 

Even  our  great  missionary  work  could  not  continue  without 
means,  and  many  other  phases  of  the  work,  that  are  pregnant  with 
spiritual  blessings,  that  are  destined  to  bless  all  mankind,  would 
cease  if  the  Saints  were  not  loyal  to  this  law  of  tithing.  In  all 
these  important  activities,  that  are  doing  their  part  in  cleansing 
the  world  from  sin,  raising  men  and  women  to  higher  ideals,  and 
redeeming  the  race,  some  material  form  of  help  is  needed  for  their 
full  fruition. 

God,  who  is  wise  and  just  and  filled  with  love,  mercy  and 
compassion  towards  all,  has  ordained  the  plan  whereby  the  means 
may  be  provided  in  a  just,  equitable  and  proper  manner.  That 
plan,  ordained  by  him,  is  described  in  the  revelation  on  tithing. 

Then,  because  the  Lord  has  commanded  it ;  because  we  have 
faith  in  him ;  because  we  wish  this  faith  to  increase ;  because  we 
wish  the  other  soul-attributes  developed ;  because  we  wish  to  enjoy 
the  blessings  of  heaven  in  temporal  and  spiritual  matters ;  be- 
cause we  are  jealous  of  the  privilege  granted  us  to  support  the 
institutions  of  the  Church  with  a  part  of  our  means ;  because  our 
good,  common  sense  tells  us  that  institutions  dealing  in  spiritual 
things,  need  material  support ;  because  we  want  this  to  be  a  land 
of  Zion  unto  us  and  our  children  forever ;  and  because  we  believe 
with  full  faith  in  the  power  of  the  gospel  to  bless  all  mankind  and 
ultimately  redeem  the  race — both  the  living  and  the  dead, — we 
should  pay  our  tithing. 


Messages  from  the  Missions 


Elder  J.  Leo  Ellertson,  Korangata,  New  Zealand,  July  29:  "Noth- 
ing but  good  can  be  said  of  the  work  being  accomplished  in  the  infant 
institution  of  learning  established  by  the  Church  at  Korangata,  New 
Zealand.  The  casual  observer  can  readily  see  that  the  Spirit  of  the 
Lord  is  directing  the  work.  This  is  proved  by  the  spirit  of  brotherly 
love  that  accompanies  all  that  are  connected  with  the  institution. 
The  native  boys  are  highly  elated  over  the  privilege  they  enjoy  of  at- 
tending the  college  and  often  send  letters  home  to  their  parents  giving 


EDITORS'  TABLE 


179 


such  good  reports  that  it  inspires  their  parents  to  reply  with  letters 
of  thanksgiving  to  Professor  Johnson  and  his  assistants  for  their 
labors.  Already  certain  boys  have  expressed  themselves  as  seeing  life 
in  a  new  light  and  a  complete  revolution  has  taken  place  in  them. 
Instead  of  the  wild,  roving  and  restless  spirit  that  permeates  their 
souls  on  entering  school,  an  altogether  different  attitude  is  gradually 
taking  possession  of  them  and  comparatively  speaking  they  have  be- 
gun to  place  their  ideals  among  the  stars.  They  are  making  strenuous 
efforts  to  realize  their  new  formed  ambitions.  Recently  we  had  a  case 
of  supposed  small-pox  but  which  turned  out  to  be  nothing  but  a  milder 
disease.  The  government  thoroughly  cleaned  and  fumigated  the 
buildings    and   vaccinated   all   the    students   and   teachers,   free   of  the 


GROUP   OF   KORANGATA   SCHOOL   CHILDREN 


burden  of  expense.  We  therefore  feel  secure  from  that  unwelcome 
disease,  and  while  we  are  still  quarantined  yet  joy  and  happiness  reign 
in  our  midst.  The  small  schools  scattered  throughout  the  north  island 
for  the  purpose  of  teaching  the  younger  children  the  fundamentals 
of  an  education  and  the  gospel,  are  doing  well  and  are  instilling  into 
the  hearts  of  the  children  the  fear  of  God  and  a  desire  to  do  good.  I 
send  herewith  a  group  of  children  who  attend  school  at  Korangata 
near  the  college  where  I  am  teaching  at  present,  also  of  three  elders 
who  have  had  the  privilege  of  teaching  in  the  graded  schools  and  felt 
that  it'  was  one  of  the  happiest  positions  they  ever  held.  Two  of  them 
are  now  teaching  in  the  college.  We  feel  that  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
is  striving  with  the  people  of  New  Zealand,  and  that  slowly  and  surely 
they  are  being  made  to  realize  the  importance  of  the  gospel  message 
that  we  bear." 


Priesthood  Quorums'  Table 

Important  Rulings:  The  Presiding  Bishopric  have  made  the  fol- 
lowing rulings  on  presidency,  enrollment  in  ward  classes,  and  quorum 
recommends,  which  all  bishops,  ward  clerks,  and  class  instructors 
should  carefully  notice: 

1st — The  bishopric  of  the  ward,  as  presiding  high  priests,  preside 
over  all  the  priesthood  classes  of  the  ward,  both  Melchizedek  and 
Aaronic,  and  all  such  classes  should  meet  weekly  under  their  direction. 
The  classes  should  not  be  confused  with  the  quorums  of  the  Melchiz- 
edek priesthood. 

2nd — The  name  of  every  member  of  the  ward  holding  the  priest- 
hood should  be  entered  on  the  priesthood  index  of  the  Ward  Weekly 
Priesthood  Roll  and  Minute  Book,  and  on  the  class  roll  to  which  he 
should  belong,  regardless  of  the  fact  as  to  whether  or  not  he  has 
been  admitted  as  a  member  of  a  regularly  organized  quorum  of  the 
Melchizedek  priesthood.  Exception  may  be  made  in  the  instance  of 
large  city  wards  whose  boundaries  comprise  organized  quorums  of 
seventy  or  elders,  who,  while  meeting  weekly,  perform  the  functions 
and  duties  of  a  quorum.  In  such  cases  it  is  the  duty  of  the  ward 
clerk  to  hand  to  the  quorum  secretary  a  slip  containing  the  names  of 
persons  received  in  and  removed  from  the  ward.  Proper  steps  should 
be  taken  by  the  quorum  officers  to  enroll  in  the  quorum  those  who 
have  just  arrived  in  the  quorum  district.  Admission  should  be  at  the 
discretion  of  the  officers  and  members  of  the  quorum,  in  harmony  with 
the  instructions  contained  in  paragraph  SO  of  the  Circular  of  Instruc- 
tions, No.  12. 

3rd — The  class  rolls  should  be  handed  to  the  ward  clerk  after  each 
meeting,  so  that  additional  names  may  be  added  and  the  removals 
indicated  on  the  roll.  Since  the  ward  clerk  usually  issues  the  cer- 
tificate of  membership  and  also  enters  all  recommends  of  persons  re- 
ceived in  the  ward,  he  is  the  proper  person  to  adjust  the  class  rolls. 
This  does  not  apply  to  quorum  rolls. 

4th — The  enrollment  of  a  person  holding  the  priesthood,  as  a 
member  of  a  priesthood  class,  does  not  entitle  him  to  membership  in 
the  quorum  to  which  that  class  belongs.  In  this  respect  we  refer  par- 
ticularly to  the  quorums  of  high  priests,  seventies,  and  elders.  He 
should  present  himself  at  the  regular  meeting  of  the  quorum,  and 
action  should  be  taken  upon  his  application  for  admittance  to  mem- 
bership in  accordance  with  the  rules  and  regulations  of  that  quorum, 
and  as  further  explained  in  paragraph  50  referred  to  above. 

5th — The  class  instructor  and  officers  of  the  ward,  including  the 
ward  teachers,  should  urge  every  person  holding  the  priesthood  to 
attend  the  ward  weekly  priesthood  meetings,  and  special  attention 
should  be  given  to  those  who  are  indifferent  and  neglectful.  Instruc- 
tors for  classes  of  the  Melchizedek  priesthood  should  be  selected  in 
accordance  with  paragraph  46  of  the  Circular  of  Instructions,  No.  12. 


Mutual  Work 

Changes  in  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.  Membership  Age 

To  the  Officers  of  the  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A. : 

Dear  Brethren:  Inasmuch  as  boys  between  12  and  14  years  of  age 
have  been  declared  eligible  by  the  General  Board  to  enroll  as  M.  I.  A. 
Scouts,  it  is  announced  by  the  General  Board  of  the  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A., 
on  suggestion  of  the  First  Presidency  of  the  Church,  that  the  boys  of 
that  age  are  also  eligible  to  enroll  as  members  of  the  Young  Men's 
Improvement  Associations,  as  they  naturally  become  weaned  away 
from  the  Primary  Associations  after  being  ordained  to  the  Priesthood 
or  enrolled  as  Scouts. 

The  officers  will,  therefore,  take  notice  of  this  action,  and  see  that 
the  boys  between  12  and  14  years  of  age  shall  hereafter  be  enrolled  in 
the  Young  Men's  Mutual  Improvement  Associations.  Instructions  re- 
lating to  the  studies  of  this  special  class  of  new  members  will  be  issued 
by  the  General  Board. 

Joseph  F.  Smith, 
Heber  J.  Grant, 
B.  H.  Roberts, 
Nov.  8,  1913.  General  Superintendency  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A. 


M.  I.  A,  Contests 

The  Committee  on  Contests  suggest  the  following  subjects  for  re- 
told stories  and  orations  in  wards  and  stake  associations.  It  is  dis- 
tinctly understood  that  these  titles  are  merely  suggestive,  as  showing 
the  class  of  matter  that  should  be  selected  for  the  M.  I.  A.  contests. 
Other  titles  may  be  chosen  by  the  contestants  themselves  to  be.  ap- 
proved by  the  officers  of  the  M.  I.  A.  in  the  various  stakes  of  Zion.  It 
should  be  remembered  that  one  of  the  points  for  judgment  in  re-told 
stories  is  "selection,"  and  in  orations  "the  idea."  The  class  of  stories 
selected,  and  the  idea  in  orations,  will  count  largely  with  the  judges. 
All  interested  are  requested  to  consider  carefully  the  points  for  judg- 
ment for  stories  and  orations,  contained  in  the  convention  program 
for  1913,  in  the  Senior  Manual,  and  also  in  the  Improvement  Era  for 
September,  1913: 

suggestive  list  for  re-told  stories 

"The  Courage  of  the  Commonplace,"  Andrews,  (small  book). 

"The  Boy  from  Missouri  Valley,"  Elbert  Hubbard,   (small  book). 

"The  Fourth  Physician,"  Pickett,   (small  book). 

"The  Perfect  Tribute,"  Andrews,   (small  book). 

"Where  Love  is,  There  God  is  Also,"  Tolstoy,  (small  book). 

"Vision  of  Sir  Launfal,"  Lowell. 

"David  Swan,"  from  Twice  Told  Tales,  Hawthorne. 

"In  the  Desert  of  Waiting,"  Annie  Fellows  Johnston,  (small  book). 

"The  Great  Stone  Face,"  Hawthorne. 

"The  Gift  of  the  Wise  man,"  O.  Henry. 

"Why  the  Chimes  Rang,"  Raymond  M.  Alden. 

"Revolt  of  Mother,"  Wilkins. 

"The  Land  of  the  Blue  Flower,"  (small  book). 

"The  Other  Wise  Man,"  Van  Dyke,  (small  book). 

"Michael,"  Wadsworth. 

"King  Robert  of  Sicily,"  Longfellow. 

"The  Man  Without  a  Country,"  Hale,  (small  book). 

"Courage,"  Ivins,  (Nov.,  1913,  Era.) 

Stories  of  Joseph,   Esther,  Ruth,  and   David  and  Jonathan,   from 

the  Bible.  N 

"T»he  Man  with  the  Pitcher,"  (small  book). 


182  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

"End  of  the  Song." 
"Enoch  Arden,"  Tennyson. 

"The  Birds'  Christmas  Carol,"  Kate  Douglas  Wiggins. 
"A  Message  to  Garcia,"  Elbert  Hubbard. 

"How  the   Lord  was   Good  to  Aunt  Johanna,"   Nephi   Anderson, 
(Era,  Vol.  13,  page  107). 

"The  Diamond  Necklace,"  Guy  de  Maupassant. 

"A  Pioneer  Patriot,"  (Young  Woman's  Journal,  Nov.,  1905). 

SUGGESTIVE  LIST   OF  TOPICS   FOR   ORATIONS 

Strength  Lies  in  Struggle.  Loyalty  to  Truth. 

Opportunity  Makes  and  Unmakes.  Back  to  Nature. 

The  Love  of  Money,  the  Root  of  The  Bible. 

Evil.  The  Sun. 

Perfect  Religion  Based  on  Reve-  The  Rainbow. 

lation  from  God.  Purity  of  Thought. 

True  to  the  Faith.  Our  Government. 

Success  Lies  in  Playing  the  Game  The  Fourth  Commandment. 

Fairly.  Man's  True  Greatness. 

"There  is  a  Divinity  that  Shapes  Idleness. 

Our    Ends,    Rough    Hew   Them  Evils  of  Extravagance. 

How  We  May."  Missionary  Enterprise. 

Faith    in    God    the    Greatest    An-  The  Lord's  Prayer. 

chorage.  "Let  There  be  Light."* 

The  Joy  of  Right  Living.  The   Peace   Maker. 

Prove  Thy  P'aith  by  Thy  Works.  Civic   Pride. 

The  Glory  of  God  is  Intelligence.  Friends. 

Am  I  My  Brother's  Keeper?  A  True  Son  of  Zion. 

"Be    Prepared."  A  True  Daughter  of  Zion. 


Mixed  Double  Quartet  for  M.  I.  A.  Contest 


A — "It  is  the  Lot  of  Friends  to  Part."  Music  by  Dudley  Buck;  pub- 
lished by  Oliver  Ditson,  Boston;  price,  10c  a  copy.  (To  be  sung 
without  accompaniment.) 
B— "Tell  Me,  Thou  Pretty  Bee."  Music  by  D.  Protheroe;  published 
by  Joseph  Flanner,  Milwaukee,  Wis.;  price,  15c  a  copy.  (To  be 
sung  with  accompaniment.) 

The  above  named  musical  numbers  are  selected  for  the  M.  I.  A. 
contest,  the  finals  of  which  will  be  held  next  June  in  Salt  Lake  City. 
These  selections  have  been  made  after  going  over  several  hundred 
musical  numbers  and  consulting  with  some  of  the  best  musicians  of 
the  state.  The  selections  are  excellent,  both  from  a'  practical  and 
artistic  point  of  view.  The  numbers  are  not  so  difficult  but  that  all 
ward  associations  may  enter,  and  still  all  find  plenty  to  do,  if  the  music 
is  sung  as  the  composers  intended  that  it  should  be  sung. 

The  songs  may  be  purchased  at  the  Daynes-Beebe  Music  Co.,  at 
the  Consolidated  Music  Co.,  and  at  other  music  houses  in  Salt  Lake 
City,  or  through  your  local  music  house,  by  sending  full  particulars 
and  price  as  announced  above. 

Both  numbers  must  be  sung  in  the  contest  in  the  order  given.  In 
the  "A"  number,  the  prelude  only  will  be  played.  In  the  "B"  number, 
the  accompaniment  will  be  played  throughout. 

We  trust  that  M.  I.  A.  officers  already  have  the  mixed  double  quar- 
tets organized  in  their  wards,  under  the  direction  of  the  M.  I.  A.  chor- 
isters, and  that  they  are  singing  in  the  different  association  meetings. 
The  quartets  should  be  to  the  association  what  the  ward  choir  is  to 


MUTUAL  WORK  183 

the  sacrament  meeting — the  "backbone"  of  good  singing.  The  Junior 
choruses  should  be  organized  at  once,  and  encouraged  to  sing  before 
the  association  and  other  public  meetings,  from  time  to  time.  This 
work  should  be  under  the  direction  of  your  M.  I.  A.  chorister.  The 
contest  piece  for  the  Junior  boys'  chorus  is  published  in  this  number 
of  the  Era. 


Suggestive   Outlines   for   Y.  M.   M.  I.  A.  Freshmen   Class 
(12-14   Years)  for  December 

First  Week.  Five  Minutes — Setting  up  Exercises.  See  pages 
219-220,  Boy  Scouts  Hand  Book,  Exercises  1,  2,  3,  4.  These  should  be 
memorized. 

Five  minutes — Scout  cheer  (Yell)  See  page  101-102,  Hand  Book 
for  Scout  Masters,  and  this  number  of  the  Era.  Discuss  the  yell.  It 
creates  the  "get  toegther  spirit,"  and  is  a  "safety  valve."  Where  the 
associations  meet  on  Sunday  night,  this  work  should  be  done  silently 
or  eliminated,  and  the  singing  of  old  familiar  melodies  be  substi- 
tuted^ 

Fifteen  minutes— "Telegrams  Without  Wires" — See  Stories  of  In- 
ventors, chap.  1.  This  book  is  one  of  the  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.  reading  course. 
See  page  210-215,  Boy  Scouts  Hand  Book.  The  leader  should  read  up 
on  this  subject  and  give  the  boys  his  findings.  Do  not  read  from 
books  in  the  class,  but  show  pictures  and  talk  about  them.  Con- 
struct an  imaginary  wireless  station  in  the  room. 

Twenty  minutes — Scout  Work.  See  Lesson  1,  last  pages  of 
Junior  Manual. 

Second  Week.  Five  minutes — Setting  up  Exercises.  See  page 
219,  220,  221  Boy  Scouts  Hand  Book.  Review  last  lesson  and  add  ex- 
ercises 5  and  6. 

Five  minutes — Scout  Cheer  (Yell).  Review  last  lesson.  "Churn" 
the  yell.  Have  the  boys  bring  an  original  yell  for  next  week,  one 
that  will  fit  their  ward  organizations. 

Fifteen  minutes — "The  Air  Ship."  See  Stories  of  Inventors, 
chap.  II.     See  suggestions  on  first  lesson. 

Twenty  minutes — "Scout  Work."     See   lesson  2,  Junior   Manual. 

Third  Week.  Five  minutes — Setting  up  Exercises.  Review  and 
add  exercises  7,  8,  9.  These  exercises  should  be  memorized  by  the 
leader. 

Five  minutes — Scout  cheer  (Yell).  Review,  and  try  one  or  two 
new  ones. 

Fifteen  minutes — "How  a  Fast  Train  is  Run."  See  Stories  of  In- 
ventors,   chap.    III.      Show   pictures    to    class. 

Twenty  minutes — Scout  Work.     See  lesson  3,  Junior  Manual.  _ 

Fourth  Week.  Five  minutes — Setting  up  Exercises.  Review, 
and   add    10,    11,    12. 

Five  minutes— Scout  Cheer   (Yell).     Review. 

Fifteen  minutes — "How  Automobiles  Work."  See  Stories  of  In- 
ventors, chap.  IV.  . 

Twenty  minutes— Scout  work.     See  Lesson  4,  Junior  Manual. 

Since  the  decision  of  the  General  Board  that  the  12-14  year  old 
boys  should  be  enrolled  in  the  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.,  time  has  not  permitted 
the  Committee  on  Class  Study  to  work  out  any  definite  lesson  work, 
but  in  order  that  the  regular  Junior  Manual  work,  shall  not  be  used 
by  the  freshman  class  (12-14)  which  would  interfere  with  our  three- 
year  Junior  course,  Field  Secretary  Oscar  A.  Kirkham  has  prepared 
the  above  lessons  which  we  trust  will  be  of  assistance,  until  further 
outlines  of  work  for  these  boys  are  suggested. 


Passing   Events 


A  tablet  marking  the  "Mormon"  trail  across  Iowa,  was  dedicated 
at  Keokuk,  on  October  22,  in  connection  with  the  unveiling  ceremony 
of  a  bronze  statue  of  Indian  Chief  Keokuk.  The  telegrams  state  that 
the  unveiling  ceremony  was  held  in  connection  with  the  Iowa  Daugh- 
ters of  the  American  Revolution  conference. 

William  Nelson,  for  many  years  connected  with  the  Salt  Lake 
Tribune,  died  Sunday  morning,  October  26,  1913.  He  was  a  noted 
character  in  Utah  for  many  years.  As  a  soldier,  editor,  and  citizen, 
while  intensely  partisan,  he  was  forceful  and  determined,  and  in  many 
respects  a  remarkable  character.  Intense  in  his  likes  and  dislikes,  he 
was  a  thorough  partisan. 

William  C.  Whaley,  of  Townsend,  Montana,  has  been  appointed 
and  confirmed  United  States  Internal  Revenue  Collector,  vice  E.  H. 
Callister,  for  the  district  of  Utah,  Idaho,  and  Montana.  He  was  con- 
firmed by  the  Senate  October  18.  It  is  not  yet  definitely  decided 
whether  or  not  the  headquarters  of  the  district  will  be  removed  from 
Salt  Lake  City  to  Montana. 

Charles  Tellier  died  recently  in  poverty  in  Paris,  France,  at  a  ripe 
old  age.  His  experiments  of  half  a  life-time  made  refrigeration  sys- 
tems possible.  One  of  the  corporations  he  had  helped  to  enrich 
offered  him  in  his  last  hours  a  gift  of  $20,000,  but  as  he  had  lived  half- 
starved  during  his  life-time,  unrecognized,  he  scornfully  rejected  it. 
He  accepted  a  ribbon  from  the  Legion  of  Honor,  but  said  he  spurned 
alms. 

At  Leipzig,  Germany,  in  October,  the  hundredth  anniversary  of 
"the  battle  of  the  nations"  was  celebrated  by  the  unveiling  of  the 
world's  largest  monument.  It  was  at  this  place  that  Napoleon's 
army  received  from  the  allies  a  blow  which  gave  promise  of  what 
was  to  follow  a  little  later  at  Waterloo.  The  monument  is  nearly 
300  feet  high,  and  is  200  feet  wide  at  the  base.  It  is  built  of  reddish 
porphyry  and  cement,  and  cost  $1,500,000.  In  the  battle  of  Leipzig, 
Oct.  16-19,  1813,  more  than  80,000  lives  were  lost. 

Another  stake,  the  66th,  has  been  added  to  the  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints.  The  Boise  stake  was  organized  at  Boise, 
Idaho,  Sunday,  November  2,  1913.  Heber  Q.  Hale,  for  the  past  eight 
years  presiding  elder  in  Boise,  was  made  president,  with  William 
Rawson,  of  Carey,  and  C.  O.  Winkler,  of  Boise,  counselors,  and  W.  M. 
McKendrick,  stake  clerk.  President  Francis  M.  Lyman,  of  the  Quorum 
of  the  Twelve,  presided  and  gave  the  principal  addresses.  Others 
present  were  Elders  Rudger  Clawson,  President  W.  T.  Jack,  of  Cassia 
Stake,  Idaho;  President  W.  S.  Bramwell,  of  the  Union  Stake,  Oregon, 
and  President  M.  J.  Ballard,  of  the  Northwestern  States  Mission.  The 
new  stake  extends  from  Minidoka,  Idaho,  to  Oregon,  350  miles,  and 
includes  twelve  counties.  There  is  a  population  of  3,000  Latter-day 
Saints   living  in   the  territory. 

The  Soldier  Summit  detour,  on  the  Denver  and  Rio  Grande  Rail- 
way, was  completed  in  early  November,  so  that  trains  could  pass 
over  it.  The  first  train  consisted  of  forty-five  cars  and  required 
two  hours  to  make  the  seventeen  miles.  While  the  line  is  not  yet 
officially  opened,  trains  have  since  continued  to  pass  over  the  new 
route  going  east'.  The  detour  around  Soldiers'  Summit  decreases 
the  grade  from  four  to  two  per  cent.     The  seventeen  miles  of  new 


PASSING   EVENTS  185 

road  has  taken  eleven  months  to  complete,  at  a  cost  of  over  $2,000,- 
000.  Two  thousand  men  have  been  employed  upon  the  line  during  the 
past  summer,  besides  many  steam  shovels  and  other  mechanical  ap- 
pliances for  grading  and  track  laying.  The  detour  begins  at  Tucker 
and  ends  at  the  top  of  the  summit,  being  four  miles  longer  than 
the  old  route.  It  has  been  necessary  in  the  past  to  have  from  four 
to  five  engines  pull  a  train  of  nine  pullmans  over  Soldier  Summit,  but 
two  engines  can  now  handle  the  same  train  with  greater  speed. 

The  San  Fernando  reservoir  was  opened,  near  Los  Angeles,  Cal«- 
fornia,  on  November  5,  at  the  head  of  a  valley  twenty  three  miles 
north  of  Los  Angeles.  The  mountain  flood  gates  were  opened  which 
lead  into  the  monster  San  Fernando  reservoir;  and  the  snow  waters, 
gathered  from  the  slopes  of  the  Sierras  on  the  eastern  rim  of  the 
state,  were  brought  over  desert  and  through  mountains  in  the  Los 
Angeles  acqueduct,  260  miles  in  length,  to  the  reservoir.  There 
was  a  two  days  celebration  at  the  reservoir,  and  at  the  park  where  a 
$500,000  fountain  was  dedicated  to  commemorate  what  the  people  of 
the  state  love  to  refer  to  as  one  of  the  world's  greatest  engineering 
achievements.  It  was  begun  eight  years  ago,  when  Los  Angeles  had 
a  200,000-  population,  suffering  a  water  famine.  The  acqueduct  and 
belongings  have  cost  over  $26,000,000,  and  has  brought  to  the  city 
a  water  supply  capable  of  furnishing  approximately  260,000,000  gal- 
lons of  water  every  twenty  four  hours.  A  further  bond  issue,  in- 
volving an  expenditure  of  approximately  $6,500,000,  is  contemplated 
to  enable  the  city  to  develop  370,000  horse  power  of  electric  energy 
to  supply  Los  Angeles  with   light  and  power. 

The  Mexican  situation  continues  to  cause  grave  apprehensions 
at  Washington.  The  election  in  Mexico  on  October  26  was  a  mere 
mockery.  Less  than  ten  thousand  votes  were  cast;  whereas,  a  full 
and  free  election  such  as  we  are  accustomed  to  in  this  country  should 
have  brought  out'  at  least  two  million  voters.  The  members  of  con- 
gress were  arrested  and  put  in  jail  some  time  before,  and  Huerta  had 
declared  himself  military  dictator  of  the  country.  Two-thirds  of  the 
Mexican  territory  refused  to  vote— a  territory  lying  in  _  the  north 
which  does  not  acknowledge  Huerta  as  ruler.  The  United  States 
warned  Huerta  to  eliminate  himself  from  politics,  and  to  prevent 
.  the  newly  elected  congress  from  convening.  The  lower  house  of 
congress  met  on  November  15,  however,  and  later  organized.  Huerta 
seems  to  defy  the  United  States,  and  it  would  seem  now  that  this 
country  is  likely  to  blockade  the  Mexican  ports.  On  Saturday  morn- 
ing, November  14,  before  five  o'clock  Ciudad  Juarez,  across  the  Rio 
Grande  from  El  Paso,  was  taken  by  the  Constitutionalists  under  Gen- 
eral Pancho  Villa,  in  the  name  of  the  followers  of  Venustriano  Car- 
ranza.  There  were  horrifying  tales  of  executions  in  all  quarters. 
Captain  Jose  Torres  was  the  first'  to  be  shot.  He  was  placed  against 
a  wall  and  twenty-five  soldiers  ordered  to  riddle  him  with  bullets. 
England,  France,  and  Germany  have  agreed  to  be  neutral,  and  permit 
the  policy  of  the  United  States  to  continue  unhampered  in  the  Mex- 
ican  trouble. 

The  Roseland  District  Missionary  Home  was  dedicated  by  Pres- 
ident Joseph  F.  Smith,  in  Chicago,  Saturday,  November  1.  This 
building  is  located  on  the  south  side,  at  10723,  Perry  Avenue,  where 
there  is  a  flourishing  branch.  On  Sunday  afternoon,  November  2, 
the  Logan  Square  Church  and  Mission  Home,  corner  Wnghtwood 
and  Sawyer  avenues,  were  dedicated,  President  Smith  officiating,  and 
offering  the  dedicatory  prayer.     There  were  675  persons  at  the   ser- 


L.   D.   S.   NEW  CHURCH  BUILDING,  AND   MISSION  HOUSE,   CHICAGO 
Cost  about  $25,000.     Dedicated  by  President  Joseph  F.   Smith,  November  2,   1913. 

vices.  Bishop  Charles  W.  Nibley  spoke  on  what  the  Church  had 
accomplished  in  a  temporal  and  social  way;  and  President  Joseph  F. 
Smith,  on  the  doctrines  of  the  Church.  The  new  chapel  is  a  very 
cozy  and  pretty  place,  situated  in  a  distinctly  favorable  location.  At 
the  afternoon  service,  many  were  turned  away  on  account  of  in- 
sufficient room,  many  strangers  and  a  number  of  newspaper  re- 
porters were  present.  A  Law  student  at  the  Chicago  University 
writes  of  President  Smith's  address:  "It  was  by  far  the  strongest 
talk  I  have  ever  heard  President  Smith  give;  and  perhaps  the  most 
sincere,  and  for  that  reason  the  most  striking  talk  I  have  heard 
any  one  give.  No  matter  what  one  might  think  of  the  doctrines 
of  our  Church,  or  of  President  Smith,  I  think  anyone  who  heard 
him  this  afternoon  could  not  doubt  his  sincerty  of  purpose,  or  his 
conviction    that    he    was    speaking    and    living    the    truth." 


Scout  Cheers  or  Yells 

While  we  are  always  working  to  maintain  proper  discipline  at'  our 
meetings,  we  must  not  forget  that  the  boys  are  bottling  up  energy 
that  requires  an  occasional  vent',  or  safety  valve.  The  cheers  or  yells 
supply  such  a  vent,  and  give  rise  to  an  increasing  interest  in  the  work. 
These  cheers  or  yells  are  of  great  value  in  bringing  the  boys  together, 
making  each  one  feel  more  closely  related  to  the  others.  They  are 
also  of  special  value  at  scout  gatherings,  and  while  on  "hikes."  The 
following  are  suggested  by  Field  Secretary  Oscar  A.  Kirkham,  and 
may  be  used  separately  or  together: 

Zing  a  Zing!  Boom!  Boom! 
Zing  a  Zing!  Boom!  Boom! 
M.  I.  A.  Scouts,  Boom! 


A-M-E-R-I-C-A 

Boy  Scouts!     Boy  Scouts!     U.  S.  A. 


Let  us  all  be  loyal  to  our  Western  Industries 
Keep  the  money  here  that's   made  here 

The  Great  Need  ™E  man  in  overalls 
of  our  Great  We^t 
is  FACTORIES, 

PAY  ROLL  BUILDERS. 

Factories  create  employment, 
employment  means  popula- 
tion, population  means  a 
demand  for  FARM  PRO- 
DUCTS AND  LABOR. 
THEN!!  Get  the  "Never- 
Rip"  habit  and  insist  on  buying 


Scowcroft's 

"Never-Rip" 

Overalls 

Made  in  the  West  by  West- 
ern maids.  You  can't  buy 
Overalls  that  are  better  made. 
If  you  doubt  this  statement 
ASK  THE  MAN  WHO 
WEARS  THEM.  Every 
pair  made  to  wear.  A  guar- 
antee goes  with  every  pair.    B  wearing  scowCROFTS 

Buy  Them  Try  Them 


"NEVER-RIP" 


JOHN   SCOWCROFT 
&  SONS  CO.,  Makers 


HOME  MADE  GOODS 


Hon.  Heber  J.  Grant  spoke  recently,  advising  the  use  of  home  made  goods. 
He  said,  among  other  things: 

I  wear  goods  that  are  made  in  our  own  knitting  factories;  I  stand  up  in 
Z.  C.  M.  I.  shoes;  they  are  good  enough  for  me.  And  speaking  of  home  made 
shoes  reminds  me  of  a  little  story: 

A  number  of  years  ago,  in  the  Assembly  Hall,  Bishop  George  L.  Farrell 
announced  that  one  reason  why  he  bought  home  made  goods  was  because  he 
loved  Bishop  Farrell.  He  said,  "If  I  buy  home  made  goods,  my  money  stays 
at  home,  it  circulates  around,  and  I  get  a  chance  to  secure  a  little  of  it  occa- 
sionally." 

You  know  they  say,  "opportunity  has  a  large  lock  of  hair  on  its  forehead 
and  is  bald  behind,"  and  that  if  you  don't  grasp  the  lock  as  it  comes  by,  the 
hand  will  slip  off,  and  opportunity  is  lost.  Brother  Farrell  believed  in  grasping 
opportunity:     He  said: 

"I  have  been  coming  down  here  to  conferences,  from  Cache  Valley,  once 
or  twice  a  year  for  something  over  twenty  years,  and  every  time  I  have  gone 
to  the  depot  and  could  possibly  get  a  gold  piece,  I  put  a  mark  on  it.  Know- 
ing that  the  railroad  was  owned  by  eastern  capitalists,  I  wanted  to  see  if  I 
would  ever  get  any  of  that  money  back,  but  I  never  did.  When  I  bought 
home-made  goods  I  would  put  a  mark  on  the  money  spent,  and  time  and  time 
again  I  got  my  home  made  marked  money  back  again.  To  give  you  a  prac- 
tical illustration,  on  this  identical  trip,  at  the  depot,  at  Smithfield,  I  saw  a  man 
who  had  made  some  shoes  for  my  children,  and  I  handed  him  five  dollars  in 
payment.  He  saw  another  man  at  the  depot  to  whom  he  owed  five  dollars, 
and  he  gave  him  the  five;  and  that  man  saw  another  and  gave  him  the  five; 
and  that  man  in  turn  saw  another  and  gave  him  the  five,  and  when  the  fourth 
man  got  it,  he  came  up  to  me  and  said:  'Bishop  Farrell,  I  owe  you  six  dollars; 
here  is  five  on  account,  and  I  put  the  amount  for  my  home  made  shoes  back 
in  my  pocket." 

I  am  not  vouching  for  the  exact  language,  but  I  am  vouching  for  the 
facts,  because  I  heard  the  talk.  So,  five  dollars  worth  of  home  made  shoes  paid 
twenty-five  dollars  worth  of  debts,  as  quick  as  I  have  been  able  to  tell  it  to 
you,  or  as  it  took  Brother  Farrell  to  tell  it. 

There  are  more  institutions  in  Utah  making  home  made  goods  than  most 
of  us  are  aware.  U.tah  has  815  factories,  which  paid  nearly  twelve  million  dol- 
lars in  wages,  and  twenty-two  millions  for  raw  materials,  during  1912.  Who 
are  the  manufacturers,  and  where  are  the  manufacturing  plants?  What  is  man- 
ufactured? Our  readers  are  invited  to  notice  and  patronize  the  firms  named 
here.    We  invite  all  other  manufacturers  to  make  themselves  known.  Remember, 

"If  you  have  a  message  for  the  people,  the  IMPROVEMENT  ERA  can 

deliver  it. 


Monuments,  Mantels  and 
Tile,  Cement  Chimneys 

Mantels    and    Tile    set    in    all  parts  of 
Utah   and  Southern  Idaho 

Write  for  free  catalogues  of  Mantels,  also  of  Monuments 

Elias  Morris  &  Sons  Co. 

"WHERE  THE  FIRE  BURNS"  GEO.  Q.  MORRIS.  Manager 

21  WEST  SOUTH  TEMPLE  ST.,  SALT  LAKE  CITY,  UTAH 


UNION  PORTLAND  CEMENT  CO.,  Ogden,  "Red  Devil"  Ce- 
ment.   Plant  at  Devil's  Slide. 

STARTUP  CANDY  CO.,  Provo,  Utah.     1000  varieties  of  candy. 
Buy-Roz  and  Mountain  Mint  Gum,  and  Magnolias. 

SALT  LAKE  &  JORDAN  MILL  &  ELEVATOR  CO.,  "White 
Fawn"  Flour,  all  kinds  of  Mill  Stuff. 

CENTRAL  PLANING  MILL  CO.,  Interior  Finish  and  Odd  Mill 

Work,  Hardwood,  Lumber  and  Built-up  Panels.    Veneers  in  Oak,  Mahog- 
any, Fir,  Gum  and  Birch. 

J.  M.  CHRISTENSEN  PRODUCE  CO.,  Wholesale  Distributors 
of  "Meadow  View  Quality  Butter,"  Eggs  and  Cheese. 

DAVIS,  HOWE  &  CO.,  Manufacturers  of  all  kinds  of  Iron,  Steel 
and  Brass  Work.     127  N.  1st  West,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 

CUTLER  BROS.  CO.,  Manufacturers,  Suits  and  Knit  Goods. 
Approved  Garments  mailed  free  to  any  destination. 

WILLES-HORNE  DRUG  CO.,  No.  8  Main  Street,  Salt  Lake 

City,  Manufacturers  of  Toilet  Articles  and  Family  Remedies.    Lambourne 
Floral  Department. 

TAYSUM  MFG.  CO.,  Salt  Lake  City,  Makers  of  Taysum's  Burn 
Salve,  a  superior  treatment  for  skin  diseases. 

A.  AD.  RAMSEYER,  850  Ashton  Ave.,  Salt  Lake  City.  Home- 
opathic Remedies,  10  cents  a  vial,' contains  100  doses.  Homeopathic  Books. 

G.    P.    KELLER    MANUFACTURING    CO.,  Board  of  Trade 

Building,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  Scientific  Instrument  Makers.    Specialties: 
Precision  Balances  and  Engineering  Instruments. 

SALT  LAKE  ORNAMENTAL  IRON  WORKS,  R.  L.  Shep- 
herd, Mgr.  Iron  Fencing,  Stairways,  Store  Fronts,  Bank,  Office  and 
Elevator  Work. 

UTAH  GAS  &  COKE  CO.,  Gas  for  Light,  Heat  and  Power; 
Coke ;  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 

J.  G.  READ  &  BROS.  CO.,  Harness,  Saddles  and  Saddlery; 
336-340  Twenty-fourth  Street,  Ogden,  Utah. 

YOUNG  MEN: 

Your  Sweetheart,  your  Wife,  your  Mother,  will  each  appreciate 
a  Good  Book  for  Xmas.  Your  gift  will  be  incomplete  without  one. 
Our  Xmas  Cards  and  Books  are  the  most  carefully  selected.  Send  us 
your  money  and  let  us  select  for  you.  You'll  be  satisfied  if  you  order 
from  the 

Deseret  Sunday  School  Union  Book  Store 

44-46  EAST  SOUTH  TEMPLE,  SALT  LAKE  CITY,  UTAH 


OLSEN  &  GRIFFITH  CO.  Ine- 

OPPOSITE  HOTEL  UTAH 

"The  Photographers  in  Salt  Lake  City" 

(A  SPECIAL  KATE  FOR   MISSIONARIES/ 


The  Junior  M.  I.  A.  Class  teachers  have  a  story  in  the  November  Era  that 
will  bring  the  boys  to  attention.  It  is  entitled  "Courage,"  by  Apostle  A.  W. 
Ivins.     Why  not  have  it  read  to  the  classes  by  a  good  reader? 

Improvement  Era,  December,  1913 

Two  Dollars  per  Annum  with  Manual  Free 
Entered  at  the  Post  Office,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  as  second  class  matter. 


Joseph  F.  Smith,  |  E  ,•  Heber  J.  Grant,  Business  Manager 

Edward  H.  Anderson,    )       1         Moroni  Snow,  Assistant 

TABLE  OF  CONTENTS  i 

Relief  Party  Entering  Emigration  Canyon Frontispiece 

Sketch  by Lee  Greene  Richards 

In   Lighter   Mood    95 

Agricultural   Conditions  in   Book  of  Mormon 

Times    Frank  S.  Harris,  Ph.  D 97 

My  Testimony  of  Joseph  Smith  the  Prophet.  .Eunice  Wilkinson  100 

An  Irrigation  Parable Susa  Young  Gates 100 

Why  Art  Thou  Sad?     A  Poem Alfred  Lambourne   101 

Jim   Bridger,   "Our   First   Citizen" Preston   Nibley    102 

"Too  Much  to  Do"    William   Halls    107 

Belated  Emigrants  of  1856—11.     Illustrated. ..  Solomon  F.  Kimball 108 

Peculiar  Japanese  Religion   H.  G.  Ivins 118 

Stake  Superintendents  Y.  M.  M.  I.  i\. — 121 

Birthplace  of  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith,  With 

Illustrations    George  Ed.  Anderson 122 

Forgiveness.     A  Poem   John  Greenleaf  Whittier...    127 

Voice  of  the   Intangible— XIX-XX Albert  R.  Lyman   128 

Zion  Cannot  Be  Denied   Dr.  George  H.  Brimhall 137 

To  Him  Who  Strives.    A  Story Josephine  Spencer    141 

God's  Serving  Angels.     A  Poem Edwin  Arnold    156 

The  Morning  Breaks.     Hymn  Set  to  Music. .  .Parley  P.  Pratt 

Evan  Stephens 157 

A  Christmas  Thought Lydia  D.  Alder 159 

Discoveries  on  the  Colorado — II.  Illustrated.  .Joseph  F.  Anderson 160 

Editor's  Table — Greeting  from  the  First  Pres- 
idency     Joseph  F.  Smith, 

Anthon  H.  Lund, 

C.  W.  Penrose  168 

A   Greeting  to  the   Missionaries Dr.  James  E.  Talmage... ..   172 

Why  Pay  Tithing? 174 

Messages  from  the   Missions *78 

Priesthood  Quorums'  Tables — Important  Rul- 
ings         180 

Mutual  Work — Changes  in  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A. 
Membership  Age — M.  I.  A.  Coni  sts — 
Mixed  Double  Quartets  for  M.  I.  A.  Con- 
tests— Suggestive    Outlines    for   M.   I.   A. 

Freshmen   Class    181 

Scout   Yells 183  and  186 

Passing  Events    184 


We  have  trained  many  of  the  successful  business  men  of  the  West 
Let  us  train  you 

SALT  LAKE  CITY,  UTAH 

Highest  Efficiency.        Lowest  Rates.       Ask  for  our  Circular.       Phone  Was.  320 


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In  it  you  -will  find  described  the  above  Riile  together 

■with  all  other  standard  makes  of  firearms. 

BROWNING    BROS.    CO..    8Sir 


ESTABLISHED  1860  INCORPORATED   1908 


S.  M.  TAYLOR  &  CO. 

UNDERTAKERS  AND 
EMBALMERS 

SUCCESSORS  TO 

JOSEPH  E.  TAYLOR 

The  Pioneer  Undertaker  off  the  West 
53  years  in  one  location 

251-253-255-257  East  First  South  St. 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

MODERN  METHODS        EFFICIENT  SERVICE        COMPLETE  EQUIPMENT 


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ROYAL 
SHOE  REPAIRING  CO. 

(INCORPORATED) 
MAIN  SHOP,  1  7  E.  Broadway  BRANCH,  1  07  So.  W.  Temple 

Send  your  Shoes  by  Parcel  Post 

Our  out-of-town  work  is  attended  to  the  same  day  as  received, 
and  returned  by  pare*  1  post  C.  O.  D. 

We  have  regular  enstomers  in  many  towns  in  Utah,  Idaho, 
Wvoming  and  Nevada.     Send  your  shoes  for  a  trial. 

We  are  the  LAGBST  SHOE  REPAIRING  COMPANY  IN 
THE  WEST  and  are  at  your  service. 

PRICE  LIST: 

Men's  Soles,  sewed  75c  Ladies'  Soles,  sewed  50c 

Heels,  straightened  25c  Rubber  Heels,  40c  and  50c 

Sewing  and  Patching,  priced  reasonably,  according  to  work 
necessary. 

All  Work  Fully  Guaranteed 
Only  Best  Material  Used 


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Beneficial  Life  Insurance  Co.  of  Utah 

A  HOME  COMPANY 

Joieph  F.  Smith,  President  Lorenzo  N.  Stohl,  Vice-Pret.  and  General  Mgr. 

Axel  B.  C.  Ohlson,  Secretary 

Lead  all  companies  in  Utah  in  amount  of  New  Insurance 
written  during  past  three  years 

HOME  OFFICE,  VERMONT  BUILDING     -     SALT  LAKE  CITY,  UTAH 


Buy  the  Wagon  that  runs  40  per  cent  Lighter 

Why  shouldn't  you  when  every  other  good  wagon  quality  goes  along  with  It? 
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It's  a  matter  of  simple  eeouomy.  Figure  it  out  for  yourself.  No  drying  apart  no  re- 
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ALL  STEEL  GEARING.  Angles,  I-beams  and  channels,  ste-1  In  Its  strongest  forms 
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CONSOLIDATED  WAGON  &  MACHINE  CO.,  UT5So,DTAH0Si»:y?t«\NME«v.ADA 


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